THE Miss India Fiji Pageant will return to Fiji this year for its third local instalment.
The pageant had previously been held in the US until 2009 when it returned to Fiji. The pageant is for Fiji women of Indian descent, between the ages of 17 to 27 years, to vie for a chance to represent Fiji at the Miss India Worldwide pageant. The return of the pageant marks only the third time Miss India Fiji will be held in Fiji.
The winner represent Fiji at the Miss India Worldwide Pageant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia early next year.
More than 30 countries are expected to participate in the March 2013 event.
Pageant director Aliyah Jan said the goal of the pageant was to promote the Fijian culture and celebrate the Indian diaspora around the world.
"The Miss India Fiji Pageant is intended to provide entertainment and enlightenment about Fijian and Indian arts and culture to the audience," Mrs Jan said. "We encourage talented young women to apply to be part of this pageant because it is a unique opportunity to represent ourselves in an international stage."
Auditions have been scheduled for later this month in Nadi, Sigatoka, Nausori and Suva.
The Miss India Fiji pageant will consist of four segments — introduction, traditional Indian, talent and a Q&A session.