Neha Ramesh, daughter of a farmer couple and whose role model is her mother, has been crowned the Navy Queen at a pageant held to mark the culmination of the Navy week celebrations at the Southern Naval Command here on Monday night.
Sneha Kumar Gautam and Henna have been adjudged the first and second runners-up of the exquisite pageant conducted at the Command Officers Mess.
Earlier, the traditional ‘Navy Ball' was rolled by Vice-Admiral K. N. Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, marking the commencement of the evening's festivities.
Soon, the 10 finalists of the Navy Queen Beauty Pageant walked the ramp amidst thunderous applause and catcalls. During brief interludes, foot-tapping Bollywood dance numbers were presented by Carl Fernais and the Illusion, and ‘Immortals' from Mumbai besides DJ Rajan.
Nasir Kazi along with the versatile Dilruba Pandey, herself a former Navy Queen, compered the event on Monday.
Together, the duo whipped up an electric ambience of buoyant synergy entertaining all and sundry. To set the tone for the event to unfurl, Vice-Admiral Sushil shook a leg with his spouse Letha on the specially-built-up dance floor.
Once the pageant was over, naval officers along with their partners scorched the floor letting their hair down in an evening marked by poised revelry and festive zeal. At the pageant, Saranya was chosen Miss Beautiful Smile; Vani Miss Beautiful Skin; Neha Shukla Miss Beautiful Hair and Dimple Miss Beautiful Personality.
The pageant had a jury comprising Letha Sushil; Command Medical Officer Surgeon Rear Admiral Nirmala Kannan; Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) Rear Admiral G. Ashok Kumar; Le Meridien General Manager Rajesh Madan; Choice School Principal Molly Cyril; and Lieutenant Kaustab Banerjee.
The Navy Queen has won return tickets for a couple to London, cash prize, jewellery and other prizes. The first runner-up got return tickets for a couple to Paris, cash prize and jewellery while the second runner-up is all set to fly to Dubai on a single return ticket. She has also received a cash prize and jewellery. The Navy Ball witnessed a fine blend of service personnel in uniform and civilian dignitaries who set the dance floor afire till late into the night. The proceeds from the event will be used to fund welfare activities such as providing education to children of naval ex-servicemen and personnel who died in harness.
