State celebrates as Parvathy makes it to the podium

George Jacob and P.K. Ajith Kumar — AFP

Parvathy Omanakuttan waves to the crowds after being crowned the first runner-up at the 2008 Miss World pageant.

KOTTAYAM/ KOZHIKODE: The State celebrated Parvathy Omanakuttan’s first runner-up title at the Miss World pageant in Johannesburg on Saturday night, which may be deemed as a coming of age of the beautiful, confident and cosmopolitan Malayali women on a global stage.

At Madappally, a sleepy village near Kottayam, people were feeling proud, as Parvathy was born there. Though she is settled in Mumbai with her parents and brother, she visits her relatives every year.

Tryst with destiny

On Saturday night, at Krishnavilasom House, her grandmother, Santhakumari, and relatives sat in front of television well before 8.30 p.m., to see Parvathy’s tryst with destiny. There was tension in the air when the results of the semi-final round were announced. Even as the 14th name was announced, the faces looked worried, but only to light up when Miss India was announced as the 15th entry. Just before 10 p.m., Parvathy’s father, Omanakuttan, telephoned home and said, “Pray for her.” When her name was called for the final round as the first one, hope and expectancy returned. After the questions and the answers, almost everyone was sure their ‘Paru’ would return with the Miss World crown.

She may not have done quite that. But the first runner-up title was cause enough to begin the end of a never-ending night of celebrations.

The 21-year-old represents the modern Malayali girl who is as comfortable in haute couture as she is in the ‘set mundu.’ Her achievement, over more than 100 contestants has come at a time when two Malayali actors have made it big beyond the borders of Kerala.

Asin Thottunkal, whose first Bollywood film, Ghajini, will reach cinemas later in December, and Nayanthara, the reigning queen of South Indian cinema, have proved that a Malayali girl could look as chic, glamorous and westernised as any other girl from a metropolis and demand, and get, as much money as many of the top Indian heroines. Parvathy, as Asin and Nayanathara, belongs to the generation of Malayali beauties who have come a long way from that of Padmini, the first Kerala woman to make a mark in the entertainment industry at the national level. She proved with her answers at the Miss World pageant that she is not just beautiful but articulate and poised too; she was clever enough to bring in both Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela in her answer in the final round.

Worthy successor

And that answer nearly fetched the Miss World crown, which she lost to Russia’s Ksenya Sukhinova. She showed she is a worthy successor to the likes of Reita Faria, the first Indian woman to walk away with the Miss World Crown in 1966, Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, former Miss Universe, and Priyanka Chopra.

Parvathy’s feat will inspire many aspiring beauty queens and models in Kerala, according to Ram Menon, executive director, Impresario, which has been conducting Miss Kerala pageants for the past one decade.

“Though there have been Miss India winners from Kerala in the past such as Shweta Menon, Mini Menon and Shweta Vijay, nothing can be compared to Parvathy’s outstanding achievement,” he said. “It is a proud moment for Kerala.”

http://www.hindu.com/

Miss World jury was unfair, says Parvathy 15 Dec 2008, 0506 hrs IST, PTI

JOHANNESBURG/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congratulations poured for Parvathy Omanakuttan for making "India proud" despite missing the Miss World 2008
crown by a whisker but the lanky Kerala beauty feels she was done in by the jury alleging that its decision to adjudge her only second best was "unfair".

"I have performed better than others in the personality and question-answer round. This is not just that. All those who watched it yesterday felt like that. I feel the jury's decision was unfair", Parvathy(21), who was adjudged the first runner up from among 108 contestants at the Miss World pageant in Johannesburg, told Kerala's India Vision channel.

"I had confidence. I could do well. The question-round did not come as a challenge to me considering my background in literature," said Parvathy, who hails from Changanassery in Kottayam in "God's own Country", as hopes soared in India that she would bring back the coveted title which was last won by an Indian girl in 2000 when her name was announced in the five semi-finalists.

There were mixed emotions at Parvathy's mother's home in Madapally village in Changanassery. Some relatives felt she deserved to win the title ahead of the Russian blonde Ksenya Sukhinova while others thought it was a proud moment for India for coming second position warding off competition from over 100 beauties from around the world.

"Well done Parvathy! We are all proud of u!!! Successful exit matters more than a favourable entrance.... U made urself count... another feather in India's cap..," a fan commented on the official website of the Miss World contest.

Another comment noted that though the Malayalee did not win the crown her coming second was a splendind achievement overcoming stiff competition.

"We are proud of you!," the mail said.

Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999) and Priyanka Chopra (2000) were the previous five Indian beauty queens who had won the coveted title.

A compatriot from Kerala wrote to the 5 feet 9 inch- tall Parvathy that she wishes to send her "oaraayiram poochendukal, Parvathii, ellavidha ashamsakalum" (1,000 bouquets and all the very best wishes).

Another fan, Malavika wrote that the feat was "still an amazing achievement!!!"

"Best of luck for the future!!!! I am a pageant freak and I was so happy that our country made a mark at Miss World 2008. waiting for your return!!!!!!!!," she wrote.

Parvathy, hailing from Kottayam, grew up in Mumbai. Having graduated in Arts, she has studied Sociology, Psychology & English Literature.

Parvathy's ambition is to further her studies in Psychology to learn more about human behaviour in depth, her bio-data on the website says.

The lanky beauty is an ardent sports fan with a special interest in basketball, badminton and swimming.

She has a special talent for whistling. She likes listening to music, singing, reading, glass painting, acting, modelling, dancing (varying from local dances to ballroom and Latin dances) and learning new languages.

Parvathy is also very fond of a beautiful quote by former President APJ Abdul Kalam 'Dreams are not what you see in your sleep, but dreams are that, which do not allow you to sleep', hence her motto in life is 'Dream with your eyes open'.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/