When 53-year-old Kainaz Mistry was crowned first runner-up at The International Glamor Project (TIGP) Mrs India 2024, on May 23, it was the culmination of a "personal challenge,” she stated in dialog with Parsiana after the event held at Fingerprint restaurant. As she noted on social media, "What I have done is taken on a personal challenge — physically, mentally and emotionally…I wanted to prove to myself and the world that age can only be a barrier if you allow it to be.”
Mistry won an additional second title, Mrs Glamorous Personality, as well. Held over three days at various studios and locations across Bombay, "There were two rounds per day,” she said, "including a mock press conference; fitness; personal interviews; a red carpet and the finale that featured evening gowns.”
Kainaz Mistry (center) with other pageant winners
Mistry joined the competition only in April 2024 while the other contestants had been training since the end of 2023. "I saw the post regarding the contest on the official Instagram page of TIGP in late March. I liked their philosophy of age and weight and height not being the criteria…rather, calling for a woman of substance… And I liked the idea of ‘not a model but a role model’… All the women who had joined so far were women who had life stories of courage and substance and that attracted me.”
Mistry said she wanted to quit "a 100 times… but I kept reminding myself, ‘You do…you learn….you grow ….that itself is a win.’” There were 15 challenges for the contestants played out over social media. "Since I’ve never put myself out there in such a manner, that itself was challenging.” Because she made a late start, the other contestants were on their seventh or eighth challenge. "I had to hurtle on a roller coaster through them all… This meant writing… planning… shooting my own videos for each challenge; preparing 250 questions and answers to be given on the spot in 30 seconds… Very challenging for someone who has never spoken extempore in front of a live audience!” Talking about learning ramp walking and posing "at this late age,” Mistry said she had to plan outfits, speeches and choreograph the theme round. "It was a whole new field,” she smiled.
For her, an unexpected aspect of taking part in the contest "was the outpouring of love and support I received on social media from friends and family… so heart warming… and also pressure-giving because now I had to win in some form for them!”
Mistry manages Dr Mistry’s Advanced Dentistry at Kemps Corner set up by her late father, orthodontist Dr Keki. Her siblings Drs Rushitum and Saiesha practice there now. "In my younger avatar, I was an advertising writer with Lintas, Trikaya Grey and The Times of India,” she stated. Kainaz will now represent India at the Ms International World Classic scheduled to be held in October 2024. She is mother to 21-year-old Zahanya, "the light of my life.”
Three-year-old TIGP notes on its website that they "provide an eco-system for women’s empowerment through pageantry.” Besides the Mrs India pageant, they also run Miss Teen India and Miss India, among others.
Farrokh Jijina