Nandini Gupta, a 19-year-old girl from Rajasthan, has been crowned as Femina Miss India 2023 at a grand ceremony held last night. Shreya Poonja from Delhi and Thounaojam Strela Luwang from Manipur emerged as first and second runner-ups, respectively.

Taking to Instagram to congratulate the winners, Miss India Organisation wrote, “All of these ladies have a powerful voice and we’re sure that they’re going to use this platform to further all the important causes that they believe in. We’ve seen the passion with which they’ve worked for these positions and must say that there’s no one more deserving! Congratulations, ladies- it’s time to celebrate.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome your new reigning queen, Nandini Gupta, Femina Miss India World 2023”, wrote Femina Miss India Org on an Instagram post.

It further read, “WORLD - here she comes! Nandini Gupta has conquered our stage and taken over our hearts with her magnetism, charm, endurance and beauty! We're so proud and can't wait to see her on the Miss World stage! We're so proud of your journey and all the hard work you've undertaken to earn the crown to your full credit. May you shine always!”

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot also congratulated Nandini with a tweet, calling her ‘Kota ki beti’ (Daughter/Pride of Kota)

Nandini, who will now represent India at the 71st edition of the Miss World pageant in the United Arab Emirates, hails from Kota in Rajasthan. As per the official website, her experience in organising and hosting various extracurricular activities and events inspired her to pursue a degree in Business Management.

She “believes that rejections play a crucial role in defining who one is as an individual. So she is determined to face all the challenges, failures, and rejections that may come her way as she embarks on the journey of a lifetime,” it further said.

After winning the pageant title, Nandini shared a heartfelt note on her Instagram.

“I owe this win to my parents, my family. This crown is a tribute to your unwavering belief in me”, she further wrote.

She added, “From Kota, a small town in India, to the world stage, I am overwhelmed and honored to be crowned as Femina Miss India World 2023! It's still sinking in that I've achieved this dream of a lifetime. This journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, filled with hard work, determination, and unwavering support.”

For the young girl, Ratan Tata is the most influential person in her life as he “does everything for humanity and donates most of it to charity,” she said. Similarly, she too aims to create jobs and give others a platform to build their legacies.

Actor and Miss World 2000 Priyanka Chopra is one beauty queen who inspires Nandini the most. “She gave back to society and excelled as an actor. She inspires people, has a great sense of humour and has the zeal to gain more as she grows,” she said.

Talking about her home state, she said that Rajasthan’s heritage, culture, traditions, and sweetness in people’s voices are what make it unique. “India promotes the message of Atithi Devo Bhavah, and we, Rajasthani, by inculcating it welcome them by Padharo Mhare Desh,” she added.

Defining herself as “vocal and vivacious”, Nandini said that every woman must have confidence in herself, should be grounded in her roots, and be always compassionate toward her dream and giving back to society.

The video of the winning moment is here: