Punjabi couple to organise Miss World America pageant for 2nd year in a row

A couple of Indian origin has retained the franchise to organise the Miss World America, a beauty pageant, for the second consecutive year.

Ekta, daughter of TR Sachdeva, a local farmer, and retired educationist Vijay Luxmi, and her husband Sanjay Saini of Ludhiana had taken the responsibility of organising the pageant for the first time last year. Ekta

is the first Indian-American woman to become the national director of the pageant.

Saini couple’s daughter Shree Saini had won the contest and was the first runner-up in the Miss World pageant. Shree is the first Indian-American Miss World America to have served over 100 non-profit organisations.

The Miss World Organisation had appointed the Saini couple as new directors of the pageant last year. The contestant winning the title becomes eligible for participation in the Miss World competition. Before the world-level competition, such pageants are organised in 143 countries.

Miss World, the oldest international beauty pageant, was started in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley’s widow Julia Morley has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Earth, it is one of the big four beauty pageants.

Ekta said the socially inspired competition was committed to bringing change. The winners from different states would gather at her current hometown Seattle, Washington. Reigning queen Victoria Disorbo shall crown the winner on November 17.

The winner will receive a total prize of 2.5 lakh American dollars. The Miss World event will be held in January next year.