Twitterati calls out lack of inclusivity in Femina Miss India 2019:
Miss India Beauty Pageant is one of the most prestigious ones in every country. The winner represents the country all around the world, so she must be deserving right. Recently, Times of India published a collage of the contestants for Femina Miss India 2019 in the newspaper. And soon after it was posted a Twitter user shared the photograph and asked people “What is wrong with this picture?”
What is wrong with this picture? pic.twitter.com/61B23aYFr6
— LeBrown James (@Naa_Cheese) May 28, 2019
To this the people reacted:
Miss India contestants. They all have the same hair, and the SAME SKIN COLOUR, and I’m going to hazard a guess that their heights and vital stats will also be similar. So much for India being a ‘diverse’ country. pic.twitter.com/L4yXG0WvRu
— labellagorda (@labellagorda) May 27, 2019
Where are the others, are they barred from participating?
— #FreeDrNalongoStellaNyanzi (@ConstantRidah) May 27, 2019
Are you certain this is not the same woman in different outfits?
— Talubezie (@tmkasongo) May 28, 2019
Meanwhile, a former contestant of Miss India shared her views on colorism in pageants.
I was one of 3 state finalists last year and the girl who won was the fairest. It really be like that lol
— Ansh🌻 (@anshsinghxx) May 28, 2019
Looks just like @MyNykaa ‘s foundation shade range.
— debaushery🏳️🌈 (@sherinapoyyail) May 27, 2019
People started pointing out the fair representation of India beauty and obsession of Indians with light shade tone cards.
Its time for parents to teach young people early on that in #diversity there is beauty & there is strength. We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry & we must understand that all threads of tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color. #MayaAngelou.
— Raman Sehgal رمن سہگل (@ramansehgal) May 28, 2019
Are they all wearing the same wig?
— Eclectic Investor (@eclecticinvestr) May 28, 2019
Perhaps such contests should be done away with as they keep perpetuating same eurocentric beauty standards that will be validated when these ladies move on to miss world / universe.
— Chirag Wakaskar (@chiragwakaskar) May 27, 2019
When will that day arrive when a dark skinned woman with short curly hair be out there representing Indian women? That would do wonders for every women’s self esteem. That being fair skinned, tall, skinny, with long hair is NOT the beauty standard!
— Anuradha Varanasi (@AnuradhaVaranas) May 27, 2019
I would love to see a lovely chocolate skinned girl, someone with short hair, or intense curls for that matter, or someone who is short, maybe someone who is plus sized – or are these women not worth being ‘Miss India’?
— labellagorda (@labellagorda) May 27, 2019
there is no variation in complexion (Not a single black women). India is a country with different skin colors but the beauty industry, corporate media, and advertisements only promote white as beauty. This is not a healthy scenario.
— Aadhan (@Aadhan87) May 28, 2019
People said it seems like the girls are not presenting their own states but just the North – failing to represent the diversity in India.
In one of the most genetically diverse countries! Tragic.
— Khemta H. Jose (@khemtajose) May 28, 2019
Same beauty filter has been used on everyone leaving no scope for diversity and inclusiveness.
— Nidhi (@nidzk123) May 28, 2019
All Fair n Lovely clones,
No representation from Southern Black beauties and North East beauties…
This should be named North Indian-Punjabi Beauty contest…👍👍👍
— KamDev Baba (@TheKamDevBaba) May 28, 2019
After all this discussion Twitterati came to a conclusion that this is a representation of India’s unfair obsession with lighter skin and a huge failure to represent the dark beauties of the nation.
In India mostly lighter skin tone women have won the title. Whereas, if we look at their countries they have diversity in colorism.
What do you think about this?
Check out the 30 contestants of Femina Miss India 2019:
The 56th edition of the Femina Miss India beauty pageant will take place on 15th June 2019 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium, Mumbai. The event will be hosted by Karan Johar and Vicky Kaushal. Anukreethy Vas of Tamil Nadu will crown Femina Miss India World 2019.
