Denying any laidback or 'chalta hai' attitude is to blame for lack of exposure of Kolkata girls in modelling business, international celebrity pageant mentor Marc Robinson today said it was perhaps more due to lack of hype.
"I don't subscribe to the notion. Kolkata has everything, Bengali girls are confident and beautiful. Only we need glamour segment more hyped in the city, akin to that of in places like Mumbai," the, Miss India Organization director told PTI.
Robinson, who will be arriving in city next week for choosing the Indian Diva, Kolkata, felt proper grooming part is important.
"Once you go to Mumbai, and interact with people in the world, the girls who made it big there, you get the bigger picture. That may be important," he said when asked about the prospect of Kolkata models at the national level.
Asked about the reason behind neither Miss World or Miss Universe crown coming India's way in past several years, Robinson said "But Aisharya Rai and Sushmita Sen made it. Our Vanya Mishra made among the top ten in last year's Miss World."
"Also there is this height factor. Indian girls are not genetically as tall as the pageant contenders in some other continents, not 5 ft 10 inches. But we had shown the world height is not a handicap, our girls have other attributes, beauty, intelligence, poise, grace, grooming which they can put to perfect use and it is only a matter of time an Indian will be crowned in global pageant again. Probably this year itself," he said.
After the Kolkata Diva audition on July 30 and Bangalore on August 2, one lucky girl from each city audition will be crowned and fast tracked as a finalist of Indian Diva 2013 to be held in Mumbai and the winner will represent the country at global beauty pageant.
Indian Diva, Delhi finalist Sriishti Rana said, "It has been a dream journey and I can see myself closer to it now. My cruise has just begun and this first victory at the auditions has instilled a lot of faith and confidence in me. Winning the coveted pageant - Indian Diva and bringing back the Miss Universe crown. I want to make my country proud."
"I want to put all the efforts to prepare myself for the finale in Mumbai. I will be undergoing immense training by some of the top-notch experts from the industry," Shruti Tuli, Indian Diva 2013 Chandigarh Finalist said.
