# Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest

The Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest is an annual unisex pageant conducted by the Indian Gladrags magazine. The most appealing male and female models are selected and promoted by the magazine.
They first conduct a round of selection from the regions and then post all the elimination rounds for the final contestants. The group undergoes training including physical fitness, grooming, catwalk, diction and speech.

## Gladrags Manhunt Contest
### History

The Gladrags Contest is an annual modeling event established in the early 1990s by Maureen Wadia, wife of industrialist Nusli Wadia, who owns Bombay Dyeing, one of India’s oldest textile companies. Initially started to support Bombay Dyeing’s promotional efforts, Maureen Wadia created the Gladrags magazine, which functioned both as a fashion publication and a men’s magazine, featuring swimsuit images of models. The Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest, organized by the magazine, quickly became popular, later expanding to include additional competitions like Mrs. India and Little Miss and Master contests.
The contest provided Bombay Dyeing with a steady source of models for its products, including bath and bed linens, while winners gained visibility that could launch careers in modeling or film. Unlike other beauty pageants, Gladrags contest was notable for its focus on the swimsuit round, with winners often featured on the magazine cover.
The first Gladrags Manhunt Contest India was held in 1994. Rajat Bedi of Punjab was the first winner. He represented India at Manhunt International 1994 held in Greece and was awarded 4th Runner Up in the finale.
At the 2017 event held at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai, winners across various categories were crowned. For the Little Miss & Master India Pageant, Mishika Sonkar and Shaurya Saraswat won in the juniors’ division, while Tithi Surti and Nikhil Chhabria won in the seniors’ category. Arni Sapkal won the Mrs. India Mumbai title, and Hina Azad and Bobby Vij were named winners of the Megamodel Manhunt Mumbai Pageant.

### International achievements

In 2001, Rajeev Singh of Rajasthan became the first Asian and Indian to win the Manhunt International contest. He also won two sub-awards at the contest including Sharmoon Best Dressed Gentleman Award and Best in National Costume. After his victory he established himself in the Indian fashion industry as a successful model.
India has produced many runners-up at the pageant, most notably Dino Morea, Zulfi Syed and John Abraham, all of whom have since established themselves in the Bollywood industry. The contest has also given India some of the finest models ever seen by Indian fashion industry like supermodel Muzamil Ibrahim, actor and model Sidharth Shukla, model Farhad Shahnawaz, actor and model Abhimanyu Jain, 4th runner up Manhunt International 2006 and Arry Dabas, semifinalist in 2012. Other notable winners include Romeo Gates, Ahran Chaudhary and Ravi Awana.
In 2005, Sidharth Shukla, runner-up of Gladrags Manhunt 2004, represented India at the Best Model Of The World contest held in Turkey and became the first Indian to win the title. Later Shukla became a famous model in India and star in the Indian film industry.

### Winners of Gladrags Manhunt India

| Year | Winner | State |
| 1994 | Kelly Dorji, Rishabh Loomba, Rajat Bedi | Punjab |
| 1995 | Dino Morea | Karnataka |
| 1996-97 | Zulfi Syed | Karnataka |
| 1998 | Tarun Arora | Assam |
| 1999 | John Abraham | Maharashtra |
| 2000 | Regi Verghese | Hyderabad |
| 2001 | Rajeev Singh | Rajasthan |
| 2002 | Nitin Singh | Maharashtra |
| 2003 | Muzamil Ibrahim | Jammu and Kashmir |
| 2004 | Hrishant Goswami | New Delhi |
| 2005 | Pawan Setpal | Maharashtra |
| 2006 | Abhimanyu Jain | Rajasthan |
| 2007 | Romeo Gates | London |
| 2008 | Karan Ambardar | New Delhi |
| 2009 | Prateek Balhara | Haryana |
| 2010 | Aaran Chaudhary | Uttar Pradesh |
| 2011-12 | Sam Kapoor | London, UK |
| 2013-14 | Ravi Awana | Uttar Pradesh |
| 2016-17 | Ansh Duggal | New Delhi |

### Representatives to Manhunt International

* The winner of the Gladrags Manhunt represents India at Manhunt International, but if for any reason the winner is unable to compete then a runner up is sent to the pageant.
| Year | Representative | State | Ranking | Special awards |
| 1994 | Rajat Bedi | Punjab | 4th Runner Up | |
| 1995 | Dino Morea | Karnataka | 1st Runner Up | |
| 1997 | Zulfi Syed | Karnataka | 4th Runner Up | |
| 1998 | Balbir Meena | Rajasthan | Unplaced | |
| 1999 | John Abraham | Maharashtra | 1st Runner Up | |
| 2000 | Regi Verghese | Hyderabad | Unplaced | |
| 2001 | Rajeev Singh | Rajasthan | Manhunt International 2001 | Sharmoon Best Dressed Gentleman Best National Costume |
| 2002 | Nitin Singh | Maharashtra | Top 15 | |
| 2005 | Pawan Setpal | Maharashtra | Unplaced | Mr. Photogenic - 1st Runner Up |
| 2006 | Aryan Baruah | | Top 15 | Mister Personality - 2nd Runner Up |
| 2007 | Abhimanyu Jain | Rajasthan | 4th Runner Up | |
| 2008 | Romeo Gates | London | Top 15 | Mister Internet Popularity |
| 2010 | Ahran Chaudhary | Uttar Pradesh | Top 16 | Mister Internet Popularity |
| 2011 | Shashvath Seth | Maharashtra | Unplaced | |
| 2012 | Arry Dabas | Karnataka | Top 15 | Mister Photogenic |
| 2014 | Gaurav Kumar | New Delhi | | |

### Representatives to Best Model of the World

* The winner of the Gladrags Manhunt represents India at the Best Model of the World contest, but if for any reason the winner is unable to compete then a runner up is sent to the pageant.
| Year | Representative | State | Ranking | Special awards |
| 2000 | Shabbir Ali | Karnataka | Unplaced | Best Asian Model |
| 2001 | Abhinav Gautam | Maharashtra | Unplaced | Best Asian Model |
| 2002 | Vijay Balhara | Maharashtra | 4th Runner Up | Best Gentleman |
| 2003 | Ganesh Venkatraman | Maharashtra | Unplaced | |
| 2005 | Sidharth Shukla | Maharashtra | Best Model of the World | |
| 2006 | Abhimanyu Jain | Rajasthan | 3rd Runner Up | Mister Photo-model |
| 2007 | Romeo Gates | London | Unplaced | |
| 2009 | Prateek Balhara | Maharashtra | Unplaced | |

### Photographs of some notable winners of Gladrags Manhunt Contest

* Dino Morea, Gladrags Manhunt India 1995 and Manhunt International 1995 - 1st Runner Up
* Zulfi Syed, Gladrags Mahnunt India 1996-97 and Manhunt International 1997 - 4th Runner Up
* John Abraham, Gladrags Manhunt India 1999 and Manhunt International 1999 - 1st Runner Up
* Sidharth Shukla, Best Model of the World 2005 and Gladrags Best Model 2004 runner-up

## Gladrags Mega model Contest
### History

The first Mega model contest was held in 1994, and girls all across the country competed for the coveted title. Shweta Menon of Kerala was declared the winner.
Lara Dutta later established herself as a leading Bollywood actress.

### Winners

| year | Winner | Age | Height | State | Country |
| 1994 | Shweta Menon | | 1.69 m (5 ft 6+1⁄2 in) | Kerala | India |
| 1995 | Lara Dutta | 16 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Karnataka | India |
| 1996 | Aditi Gowitrikar | 22 | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | Maharashtra | India |
| 1997-98 | Tora Khasigar | 17 | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | Assam | India |
| 1999 | Aanchal Kumar | 19 | 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | Punjab | India |
| 2000 | Candice Pinto | 19 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Maharashtra | India |
| 2001 | Koena Mitra | 16 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Maharashtra | India |
| 2002 | Mugdha Godse | 16 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | Maharashtra | India |
| 2003 | Deepti Gujral | 17 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | Maharashtra | India |
| 2004 | Deepa Chari | 19 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | Maharashtra | India |
| 2005 | Niki D Souza | 20 | 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | Maharashtra | India |
| 2006 | Arti Sharma | 23 | 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | Haryana | India |
| 2007 | Mahima Chaudhary | 17 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Pune | India |
| 2008 | Payal Tarafdar | 20 | 1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | Assam | India |
| 2009 | Ankita Mohapatra | 23 | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | Odisha | India |
| 2010 | Arshina Trivedi | 21 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | London | United Kingdom |
| 2011-12 | Sakshi Chaudhary | 19 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | New Delhi | India |
| 2013-14 | Charlotte Claire | 23 | 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | Mumbai | India |
| 2015 | | | | | |
| 2016-17 | Karuna Singh | 20 | | Chandigarh | India |

### Representatives to Miss Intercontinental

* The winner of Gladrags Mega model represented India at Miss Intercontinental from 1997 to 2003.
* Earlier Femina Teen Princess held the franchise of Miss Intercontinental pageant in India.
* From 2011, Indian Princess holds the franchise of Miss Intercontinental in India.
| Year | Representative | State | Ranking |
| 1997 | Lara Dutta | Karnataka | Miss Intercontinental 1997 |
| 1998 | Tora Khasigar | Assam | Unplaced |
| 1999 | Aanchal Kumar | Punjab | Semi-finalist |
| 2001 | Koena Mitra | Maharashtra | Top 12 |
| 2002 | Rakhee Chaudhary | Karnataka | Semi-finalist |
| 2003 | Deepti Gujral | Maharashtra | 3rd Runner Up |

### Representatives to Miss Tourism International

* The winner of the Gladrags Mega model contest represented India at Miss Tourism International contest, but if for any reason the winner was unable to compete then a runner up was sent to the pageant.
* Earlier Femina Miss India held the franchise of Miss Tourism International pageant in India.
* From 2011 Indian Princess holds the franchise of Miss Tourism International in India.
| Year | Representative | State | Ranking |
| 2001 | Candice Pinto | Maharashtra | Miss Tourism International 2001 |
| 2002 | Tejinder Kaur | New Delhi | Unplaced |
| 2003 | Deepa Chari | Maharashtra | Unplaced |
| 2004 | Parul Chaudhry | Maharashtra | Unplaced |
| 2005 | Shriya Singh | Punjab | 2nd Runner Up |
| 2009 | Anousha Chauhan | New Delhi | Unplaced |
| 2010 | Mahima Chaudhary | Pune | Top 10 |

### Representatives to Miss Tourism Queen International

| Year | Representative | State | Ranking | Special awards |
| 2004 | Zabina Khan | Maharashtra | Miss Tourism Queen International 2004 | Miss Disco Queen Miss Charm - 2nd Runner Up |
| 2005 | Neha Oberoi | Maharashtra | Unplaced | |
| 2006 | Rupali Suri | Maharashtra | Top 16 | Miss Personality - 2nd Runner Up |
| 2007 | Mahima Chaudhary | Maharashtra | Top 16 | Miss Personality Best Evening Gown - 2nd Runner Up |
| 2008 | Devyani Mandavgane | Maharashtra | Unplaced | 'Disco Queen |

### Representatives to Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International

| Year | Representative | State | Ranking | Special awards |
| 2005 | Roopa Howaldar | | | |
| 2004 | Amanpreet Kaur Wahi | Punjab | Top 10 Semi-finalists | |

### Representatives to Best Model of the World

* The winner of the Gladrags Mega model contest represented India at Best Model of the World contest, but if for any reason the winner was unable to compete then a runner up was sent to the pageant.
| Year | Representative | State | Ranking | Special awards |
| 2000 | Jacqueline D’souza | Karnataka | Unplaced | |
| 2001 | Zinobia Boocha | New Delhi | Unplaced | |
| 2002 | Mugdha Godse | Maharashtra | Unplaced | |
| 2003 | Deepa Chari | Maharashtra | Unplaced | |
| 2006 | Aarti Sharma | Haryana | Unplaced | |
| 2007 | Mahima Chaudhary | Maharashtra | Unplaced | Miss Friendship |
| 2008 | Payal Tarafdar | Assam | Unplaced | |
| 2009 | Ankita Mohapatra | Odisha | Unplaced | |