Sat, Mar 15, 2025 | Updated 7:58PM IST

Bennett hosts icons of Femina Miss India 2024

Times of Bennett | Updated: Nov 22, 2024 18:35
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By Radhika Gupta

Bennett University hosted the Femina Miss India 2024 winners on campus on Thursday. Nikita Porwal, Femina Miss India 2024, along with Rekha Pandey and Aayushi Dholakia, the first and second runners-up of the beauty pageant, were the esteemed guests.

Students had the opportunity to meet and interact with all three winners during a talk show hosted by Student Council President Piyush Jain. The winners shared inspiring anecdotes from their personal journeys.

“Before participating in this pageant, I had been doing theatre in my hometown, Ujjain, for seven years and had actually played the role of Sita in Ramayana for five consecutive years. I think if you play a character for a very long time, you imbibe certain qualities of theirs into your own personality. From Sita, I learned that strength isn’t always about raising your voice, and empowerment doesn’t always come from being rebellious. You can feel equally empowered through the pen or through fashion,” said Nikita Porwal.

She will represent India at the Miss World Beauty Pageant scheduled for 2026. Porwal also expressed her hope for audience support in her quest to bring the crown home.

Aspiring models and fashion enthusiasts at Bennett University received advice and positive mantras from the guests to help them achieve their dreams. “Whenever you try something new, believing in yourself is crucial. I was competing with 29 beautiful and amazing girls who had been modeling for years, while I had mostly worked behind the camera and had never been in the limelight. However, I believed in myself and achieved success. Therefore, even in spaces where you’re new or feel uncomfortable, never lose your confidence,” said Rekha Pandey, Femina Miss India 2024 First Runner-Up.

The crown holders also spoke about the power of social media and modern technology in building a personal brand today. “We are a generation equipped with the best technology and tools. If we use these with the right intent, we can create magic,” said Aayushi Dholakia, Femina Miss India 2024 Second Runner-Up.

Address by Bennett University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Ajit Abraham
Image Credits: Aliza Ashraff


The event began with a lamp-lighting ceremony, followed by a welcome address delivered by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Ajit Abraham. After the talk show, Prof. (Dr.) Sanjeev Singh, Dean of the Times School of Media, felicitated the guests.