BY K.B.NAIR

ARTESIA, CA - Pearl Entertainment made its Miss Showbiz India USA Pageant press launch at the Tangy Tomato Restaurant at the Little India Village Plaza here on August 2. The luncheon also served as the inauguration of Tangy Tomato when it laid out its best cuisine for the press, sponsors, special guests and dignitaries and participants who were in attendance at the glitzy event.

Fourteen aspirants who have made it to the final round to be held at the House of Blues on Sunset in West Hollywood on August 29, were presented to the press and invitees as they competed for two awards in the Most Beautiful Eyes and Most Beautiful Hair categories. With popular Bollywood songs in the background played by  Raj Gujral of Sound Nation LLC , the young ladies paraded in the front of a panel of judges representing  diverse professions from the entertainment industry, hoping to impress them with their poise and composure. While all the ballots have been cast and sealed, the judges will need to wait patiently until the pageant on August 29 for the results.

The hosts for the function, Showbiz India TV personalities Ritu Mahindru and Ashish Wahi set the action in motion with introductory remarks, thanking the presenter of the event, Bollywood Production and the many sponsors for their support. They steered the course of the launch with amusing exchanges of jabs, occasionally giving the sponsors a plug by including their names and products into the dialog.

Between the two contests, Reshma Dordi, Executive Producer of Peal Entertainments Inc, addressed the gathering saying that the pageant was designed to help the young ladies to achieve their goals and grow socially, culturally and spiritually. Listing and thanking the various sponsors, she added the pillars behind the show are the members of her ‘super duper’ team and her loving family, with a special word for daughter Trishta.

The charming Tanisha Mukherjee added that she had all along thought that pageants were superficial affairs but has come to realize that she had been totally wrong. She said anyone can be beautiful, but when surrounded by a bunch of attractive people the contestants have to dig really deep inside to find that extra special ‘something’ which makes one a winner. Paying her co-host at the finale  a compliment, she wished the contestants luck and hoped they would all develop the poise and confidence that she sees in Reshma Dordi.

Reigning Miss Showbiz India, Sharanya Mukhopadyay introducing the contestants for the Most Beautiful Eyes segment stated that last year had been one of the most exciting in her life. Sharing her experience, she told the girls that the pageant could appear intimidating but suggested they should not stress out and just relax and savor the moment.

Bringing the curtain down on the launch, Dordi once again thanked everybody and hoped to see them at the House of Blues. In closing she revealed some of the celebrities who will be attending, namely Pooja Batra, Gulshan Grover and Megan Mylan. A surprise announcement that she held until the very end was that the Chief Guest for the finals would be the veteran star Tanuja.

The 14 contestants who will be giving all they have to wrest the top spot at the pageant are Farnaz Amuyan, Joy Chowdhury, Lakhbir Dhiman, Rupali Jain, Natasha Kanvry, Sapna Lohiya, Aamira Ali Mir, Puja Mohanani, Lakshmi Mohindroo, Natasha Patel, Rupangi Patel, Anishka Tekade, Premal Trivedi and Avni Vachhani.

Judges at the launch for the Most Beautiful Hair and Eyes contests were Anjani Ambegaonkar ( Kathak guru), Mira Advani Honeycutt (Writer), Kate Linder (Actress), Jon Matsumoto( Journalist), Alton Patton (TV/Radio Presenter), Shani Rigsbee ( Vocalist) and Ghalib Shiraz ( Writer/ Editor).

The grand opening of Tangy Tomato will be on August 15 according to Chef Owner Raj Syal.