True empowerment belongs to women who carry the warmth of home, pursue demanding professional careers and still find the courage to follow their own dreams.
It was both a surprise and an absolute honour to join prominent members of Sydney’s Indian diaspora, including Kumud Merani, Manjula Viswanath and Sumeet Gulati, on the jury panel for Season 15 of Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide.
We were also joined by former contestants from countries including Canada and New Zealand. Together, we were entrusted with the challenging responsibility of selecting five winners from an extraordinary group of women, each stepping into the spotlight to share her individual story.
The setting offered a fitting symbol of contemporary multicultural Australia. Within the heritage-listed walls of Parramatta Town Hall, an Australian civic landmark dating back to the late 19th century, a vibrant cultural bridge between India and Australia emerged.
Contestants with roots stretching from villages in Uttar Pradesh and the metropolitan avenues of Kolkata to the fertile fields of Punjab took to the stage. In doing so, they brought India’s diverse and living heritage into the heart of New South Wales, demonstrating the growing cultural connections between Australia and India.
For 15 years, Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide has provided an international platform for married Indian women and members of the global Indian diaspora.
Far more than a conventional beauty pageant, the initiative seeks to empower women who balance family responsibilities, professional careers, personal ambitions and contributions to the wider community.
The contestants demonstrated that modern Indian and NRI women are not passive observers waiting for opportunities to emerge. They are ambitious leaders actively redefining what it means to be a global Indian woman.
Their journeys evoke the legacy of women such as Zeenat Aman, the celebrated actress and former Miss Asia Pacific whose progression from pageantry to Indian cinema continues to inspire generations of women to transcend conventional boundaries.
Photographer Balzinder captured the energy, confidence and emotion of the contestants throughout the evening.
The Sydney event was the vision of Haut Monde India Group founder Bharat Kumar Bhramar. He was supported by his former hotel management classmate Pankaj Shiv Khandelwal, owner of Sydney’s multi-outlet The Colonial restaurants, and actor, writer and filmmaker Taufeeq Ahmed Sheikh.
Taufeeq led the production in Sydney, transforming the historic Parramatta Town Hall into a spectacular international stage through an impressive combination of lighting, staging and event design.
Reflecting on the occasion, Mr Bhramar acknowledged both the importance of the Australian Indian community and the role of multicultural media in preserving community connections.
“It was an honour to gather with our vibrant community at the historic Parramatta Town Hall,” Mr Bhramar said.
“Platforms like Desi Australia play a vital role in keeping our diaspora connected, celebrating our rich culture and highlighting the contributions of the South Asian community.
“We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support and look forward to building even stronger cultural bridges across Australia.”
Mr Bhramar also celebrated the successful completion of the Australia and New Zealand Finale for Season 15, describing the occasion as an evening of “crowns, elegance and empowerment”.
He congratulated the contestants for bringing grace, intelligence, confidence and poise to the stage, describing the regional finale as their first step towards the global stage.
“A massive congratulations to everyone who took part in this extraordinary journey,” Mr Bhramar shared on social media.
“This is your first step toward the global stage, and we can’t wait to see you shine in the Grand Finale.”
According to Haut Monde, the competition received approximately 50,000 applications for Season 13, while Season 14 included representation from more than 50 countries. The staging of the Season 15 Australia and New Zealand Finale in Sydney marked another important milestone in the event’s international journey.
Evaluating such a strong display of talent, intellect, confidence and grace required a deep sense of responsibility.
Drawing on my experience as an ambassador for the Fabric of Multicultural Australia, the Australia India Business and Community Alliance and Mental Health Foundation Australia, I sought to ensure every participant was assessed with fairness, sensitivity and respect.
As a global heritage traveller, my mission has always been to bring thousands of years of Indian textile heritage to life on the world stage. This perspective allowed me to view fashion during the evening not simply as an aesthetic expression, but also as a medium for cultural connection and diplomacy.
I was also delighted to meet Melbourne-based Sayantani Chakraborty, who represents an engaging combination of Australian identity, Bengali heritage and corporate achievement. Crowned Mrs Asia World 2025 in Dubai, her journey also reflected the importance of family support in enabling women to pursue their ambitions.
Contestant Neeshu provided another inspiring example, receiving enthusiastic support from her husband and delivering a memorable performance on stage. She was named one of the evening’s five winners, each representing one of the classical elements.
The five winning contestants were:
- Fire Element Winner: Neeshu
- Water Element Winner: Seema Dhanda
- Earth Element Winner: Sai Bhargavi
- Air Element Winner: Bhavika Darji
- Space Element Winner: Anshu Nair
As the five winners prepare to travel to Jharkhand, India, for the Grand Finale, they carry with them the pride and support of communities in both Australia and New Zealand.
They stand as powerful examples of how contemporary Indian women can honour their cultural roots, overcome personal fears and pursue aspirations that inspire others around the world.
Sydney warmly welcomed this memorable celebration of women, cultural identity and empowerment. We wish all five winners every success as they prepare to take the next step onto the global stage.
By Indranil Halder
