24 years old Ruopfüzhano Whiso will represent Nagaland state at the Miss Universe India 2024 competition.
In an interview with Nagaland Tribune, Whiso acknowledged that it was an honour to represent her people in such an esteemed platform. She further expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support she received while competing with eighteen other talented contestants.
The young beauty queen looks forward to especially promoting Nagaland’s rich culture and history through the state costume. The costume is envisioned to reflect the beautiful graphics and detailed motifs found in traditional Naga attire.
Addressing the controversy surrounding conventional beauty ideals and pageantry, Whiso admitted, “Such unrealistic standards may have been true a decade ago, but pageantry today has evolved to become much more inclusive – it considers beauty as well as an advocacy of societal well-being”. She also highlighted how Miss Universe has expanded to include married women into its competition as well.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
Whiso encourages young and aspiring beauty queens to seize opportunities without fear. Beginning her journey with pageantry at the age of eighteen, she was crowned the Femina Miss India Nagaland 2018, Miss Kohima 2017 and was the first runners up of Miss Nagaland 2017.
Ruopfüzhano Whiso was selected from the open audition for Miss Universe Nagaland at Zone Niathu by the Park, Chümoukedima, on Tuesday organised by Beauty and Aesthetics Society of Nagaland (BASN). The panel of judges included Amjad Khan, Director of Operations & Marketing for Miss Universe India, and Asmita Chakraborty, Miss Tourism India 2023.
BASN President Mele Pucho stated, ‘BASN have been conducting Miss Nagaland contest for more than thirty years now. Today, we could make our debut with the Miss Universe India pageant. Many more opportunities lie ahead for Nagaland in the pageantry landscape.’
Nyesin Kent is an undergrad student at Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi and is currently pursuing her summer internship with Nagaland Tribune
