TORONTO, Canada: It was a night of entertainment, prestige and glamour all rolled into one; the 21st annual Miss India-Canada Event had it all. The sold out show was proudly presented by Imagine Dil Se, in association with Yak. The event was truly a memorable experience. At the end of the evening, Akhina Mooken of Brampton, Ontario won the esteemed title of Miss India-Canada 2011. Other sponsors included Euphoria by Calvin Klein, India Tourism, Cuisine of India Catering, and Bigen Speedy Hair Color, to name a few.
With a red carpet entrance, dazzling cocktail hour, and stunning stage set provided by The Wedding House, patrons were “wowed” right from the very beginning. The 16 delegates began the evening with a high-energy dance sequence that captivated the audience and kept them in their seats for the remainder of the evening.
Organizers, Sanjay Agnihotri and Gautam Sharma were then called upon to say a few words and present cross cultural actress, Lisa Ray with the Special Achievement Award.
Notable attendees were Mr. Prit Pal Singh – Acting Consul General of India, Toronto, and former Miss Universe Canada title holders from 2001, 2006 and 2008.
Soon after, the opening host, Aashish Rajhans, introduced the emcees for the evening—Karen Johnson from the Weather Network and Husein Madhavji. Karen commenced the evening by introducing the distinguished Panel of Judges: Dr. Gopal Bhatnagar, Chief Of Medical Staff – Trillium Health Centre / Adj Assistant Professor Of Surgery At The University Of Toronto; Bryan Gotter, Vice President – Ethnic Channels Group; Sandeep Johal, Barrister And Solicitor – Johal Law Office; Lisa M. Mattam, Managing Principal – The Mattam Group; Kim Moseley, Director Of Community Marketing & Employee Recognition For Canadian Marketing – Scotiabank; Dr. Neil Gajjar, Regional Director, Academy of General Dentistry / Examiner, National Dental Examining Board of Canada; Nimmi Papneja, Marketing & Pr Consultant – Dr. Papneja & Associates / Co-Chair – Diwali Gala 2011, Trillium Health Foundation / Founding Member – Aim For Seva Charity; Nalini Sharma, Reporter/Weather Specialist – Cp24 Breakfast; Satish Thakkar, President – Excelsior Financial Group / President – Iccc; Vinay Virmani, Lead Actor Of “Breakaway”.
The judges were then put to the test as each delegate completed the first three segments: Indian Dress, Evening Gown, and Talent. Next, the emcees announced that Aarthi Kalyan of Mississauga, ON won the YAK People’s Choice Award. Mr. Hitesh Lad, Technician-Network Operations for Yak presented Aarthi with a bouquet of flowers and a Blackberry Bold 9780. Anita Kailey of Vancouver, BC won the Euphoria Miss Photogenic award and Jessica Bhola of Markham, ON won Miss Congeniality.
The top 5 finalists were then announced in random order: Vartika Sharma of Mount Hope, ON; Priya Leena Singh of Montreal, QC; Akhina Mooken of Brampton, ON; Aarthi Kalyan of Mississauga, ON; and Anita Kailey of Vancouver, BC. The final segment of Question & Answer involved asking each contestant a different question by the panel of judges.
As the anticipation of the winner grew, the audience was treated to two jaw dropping entertainment pieces: singing sensation Parichay and a performance by Cirque Sublime.
Patrons waited in complete silence as Karen and Husein announced the results from the accounting firm of Kunjar Sharma and Associates. The Second Runner-up was Priya Leena Singh, the First Runner-up was Aarthi Kalyan and this year’s Miss India-Canada 2011 was Akhina Mooken.
Akhina Mooken is a 19 year old student in a joint program at George Brown College and Ryerson University pursuing a degree and diploma in Early Childhood Education. Akhina considers her Bharathanatyam Arangetram to be her greatest achievement, a test of perseverance that was over a decade in the making. One of her primary ambitions is to successfully use this magnificent platform to create an affirmative impact on the youth of today. She is excited to be a part of this historic moment and is enthusiastic about the positive work that she is striving to achieve
After the show, Mr Sanjay Agnihotri remarked that this year’s winner will also assist in promoting the goals of various social organizations. When asked what he thought of this year’s event, Mr. Agnihotri replied, “The hard work and dedication that our team and volunteers put forth into this year’s 21 Year Anniversary event has truly been remarkable. We are overwhelmed by the support we received from the community this year. The audience and delegates have made this year’s show a monumental success!”
India Post News Service
