 Dhaka's literati,
journalists, artists, and gliterati had a richer dose of fun and entertainment at the
Lux-Anandadhara beauty pageant at Sheraton Winter Garden on Saturday evening and were
witness to the birth of a new Lux-Anandadhara star Shuvra Das.
Liberally spiced with song and dance routines and
immaculately punctuated with jokes and puns, the Lux-Anandadhara evening was a night of
the nights in the city's otherwise dull and drab life.
Lux-Anandadhara has over the years established
itself as a leading forum for the country's beauty queens who find it a stepping stone to
instant stardom.
Kicked off a little after 7 in the evening with warm
greetings from the editor of fortnightly Anandadhara Shahadat Chowdhury and Asaduszzaman
Noor, the show began to unfold with all its charm with the recap of Lux-Anandadhara 2000
on the big screen.
Quoting the French poet Baudelaire, the Anandadhara
editor said, " It is not possible to analyse or explain beauty, what one can only do
is write a sonnet in praise of beauty." Indeed beauty can only be celebrated and
cherished and Shahadat Chowdhury spelled out the essence of beauty and the spirit of the
evening in his crisp welcome speech.
Enter the compere of the evening Afzal Hossain, exit
the welcoming party- Shahadat Chowdhury and Asaduzzaman Noor. Afzal injected the requisite
glamour and style to the beauty extravaganza. Saturday night was also a proof to his
evergreen debonair image that still enchants the city.
Then came the ten finalists of the Lux-Anandadhara
Miss Photoigenic Bangladesh 2001 in salwar-kameez ensemble sashaying down the catwalk.
Gorgeous as they were, confidence was also writ large in their strides.
The finalists of this year's contest were
shortlisted from among three thousand hopefuls who sent in their applications from all
over the country. After preliminary scrutiny, this number was narrowed down to a 100 after
which a second round of selection brought out the final 30 pre-finalists. A panel of
judges then selected the final ten among them who made it to the final round on Friday
evening. These young girls seeking a break in the glamorous world of modelling, fashion
and TV, knew that the most coveted crown of beauty in the country could be their passport
to fame and fortune.
Among these hopefuls were Ayesha
Hossain Anika, a 5 ft 4 inches tall, attractive graduate, already working as an air
stewardess, with high ambitions for her future. Anika wants to be a lawyer in future
alongside working as a model in the glamorous world of fashion.
Urmi Hossain, a 5ft 2 inches
tall young girl is a candidate for the upcoming HSC exams. She wants to be a Chartered
Accountant in the future. Dalia Nasrin Shampa, at 5 ft 3 inches of height, is a student of
second year BSS. She has aspirations to be a successful lawyer in addition to being a
model.
Tasmin Hossain Shumi, 5 ft
4 inches tall and a university student, wants to be and actress and model in future. Mita
Siddiqee, also 5 ft 3 inches tall and a student of Accountancy has her eyes set on a
career as a fashion designer.
Meher Afroz, one of the
tallest among all the participants at 5 ft 6 inches of height is a student of Honours
degree in mathematics. She is also a dancer and wants to open a dance school in the
future. Shubra Das, 5 ft 3 inches tall, is doing her masters degree alongside holding a
full time job.
Syeda Farhana Rahman Jecy,
is 5 ft 2 inches tall and a student of first year HSC. She hopes to find success as a
singer. Humaira Haider Shurovi, a 5 ft 5 inches tall student of first year Honours, also
looks for success as a singer and fashion designer in the future.
Bibha Ahmed, a tallsome girl with a height of 5 ft 6
inches is a candidate of this year's HSC exams. She looks for success as a businesswoman
in the future.
Mita Siddiqee and Meher Afroz were crowned the two runner-ups.
" I'm happy and don't have words to express my
feelings after winning Lux-Anandadhara Miss Photogenic Bangladesh 2001. I couldn't trust
my ears even after the announcement. I had a sleepless night yesterday," said Shuvra Das while talking to The Daily Star on Sunday morning. |
