Keling Killahs: Miss Singapore India

This Miss V thing is such a hot topic, we're indeed wondering if when it ends, what's going to be the next big thing. Maybe that dance competition called Dhool, maybe some random KLKuarreling at the India - Pakistan or LTTE - Lankan Govt borders. Anyhow, this is the round up of the polls. 155 people bothered to state their preference. And here are the supposed more popular ones amongst you readers.

1st
Indra
2nd
Fazila
3rd
Revathi & Devi Priya

We stopped at 3 since the final voting is gonna be the top shortlisted 3 anyway. But so what if you're not the top 3? Since Day 1, the girls together with signing up for the pageant have also conveniently been made to sign up with MediaKorp's AMU [Artistes Management Unit]. Anyhow, getting to the finals has already given them much media glare and exposure. We oughta be seeing them on our TV screens pretty soon, is our gut feeling.

Now, to point the focus to another Yindian beauty pageant, albeit one with much more class and scope [Sunita Rai was the winner in 1998]. The semi finals of Miss / Mrs Singapore India are coming up very soon. The ladies who have qualified past the intial stages are all up on their website and voting has also begun. It's also $2 a vote. And this time round, you don't sms but you do internet bank transfers, pay by credit card or mail them a cheque. Quite leceh if you ask us. In this one matter, the Vasantham approach was better.

First, view their website or open it in another window and read on: Miss Singapore India

KLKillahs explains WHY this is a true pageant, as opposed to televised reality shows masked as beauty pageants and searches for ambassadors:

1. Website

It looks upmarket. It looks professional. It's organized and sets information apart well. This is probably because it was made by a professional corporate firm. A firm that understands money buys quality and produced good quality.

2. Past Winners

Past winners of selected years are shown to portray the feeling that it is not a one-off show and that recognition will be due to you even years after you have held the crown and let it go. Unlike our favourite TV station that has let the INAUGURAL winner fade into oblivion, but wait, KLKillahs has a surprise for you. At the end of the post you'll realize what it is.

3. Profiles

If you notice, the only information provided is photo, name and age. Short and sweet. With Miss V, we saw how too much information became so detrimental. It even bordered on a little invasion of privacy. Ask any Googler, Frenster-rer, or MSN Spacer; full name / age / occupation is good enough for anyone to track you down. On top of that even we saw the amazing 10 questions, essentially interviews conducted via e-mail, un-vetted and published for the global audience.

It wouldn't be a lie if we said we enjoyed 50 Cent's 21 Questions better. At least they provoked our thoughts more with gems like: "And in bed if I used my tongue, would you like that? If I wrote you a love letter would you write back?"

4. Structure

The competition is a short and sweet one. Semis at an external ballroom and the Finals at a hotel ballroom. Swanky. In attendance of course are invited VIPs and industry movers and shakers who are more than willing to scout out any particular female they feel might do justice to their commercials or runways, and the general public including supporters. For the $80 ticket price, you get a five star dining experience, goodie bag and a chance to win lucky draw prizes. Well worked indeed.

5. Media Coverage

At first popularizing the invitation to join the pageant via ZoCards, there are also articles in The New Paper, Motherhood magazine and The Singapore Marketer. What more do you need to point out the event to all of Singapore? The New Paper was enough. All this compared to a badly scanned low-res Tamil Murasu article on the Miss V girls. We rest our case. Such an irony, that MediaKorp sucks at publicity compared to private organizers.

6. Sponsors

Now, all these high flying arrangements couldn't have been made possible without sponsors in cash and kind. At last glance, Miss Singapore India boasts a collation of 21 sponsors! And if you think they are all just providing groceries and free buffets, go read the list for yourselves under the "Event Partners" tab.

7. Prizes

The winner of this pageant walks away with 15 prizes inclusive of the crown and sash. What more does a 20+ year old girl need man? Also the winner represents Singapore in the Miss India Worldwide pageant. This on top of the guaranteed media exposure and glam. Even disregarding Miss V, Shabir too walked away with around $14,000 worth of prizes, but for what purpose? You crown an Idol and you don't cut his album for him?

Even if you didn't happen to be the top very lucky winner, you could still walk away with a sash. Miss Cover Girl, Miss Congeniality, Miss Body Beautiful are just 3 of the 18 subsidiary titles the girls stand to be recognized with.

8. Virtual Voting

Although, we felt this is much more strenous than typing out an SMS, indeed this pageant has embraced the E-Age fervently. You click on the chick you want, fill up your details and then just "submit".

As, the winners in the virtual voting category get an automatic bye into the Finals, and the 2nd & 3rd girls get an extra point in their semi final scores, you can imagine, everyone of the competitors should have activated family and friends do vote for them. You want to know the best part? Whoever is in the top 3 slots is constantly updated on the website so voters know who is lagging and who is forging ahead. Now, this is what we call, webpage - viewer relationship.

9. The Girls

Ah, we wouldn't be able to end this post right if we didn't flash up a coupla photos from the site we felt was mighty useful.

Now where have we seen this bunch before?

We can hear your hissing and your dissing already. But stop. Think for a moment. It's not wrong at all to participate in back to back pageants. After a farce of a pageant these women had joined, Miss Singapore India is a logical "atas" choice. Heck, you don't even have to win this one to get spotted. And these girls have already got into the Semis. 1 step away from the Finals. Sunita Rai is also not a one-pageant winner. She has been in tons, she wins some she doesn't win some. And so what? She's still a glorious catwalk model.

We felt some of them were attractive enough [by just this one photo] to make it big.

But you know our style. Will we ever not entertain you? Here, take a look at this one and tell us how many more Yindian women are going to not realize the essentials of good makeup and lighting. Wot a photo to parade yourself with.

Finally, we've solved the treasure hunt once and for all. Where did the missing Miss Vasantham 2004, Shobana go? Well she turned up here, that's where.

Lo and behold, apparently she shares our sentiments on certain media issues [excerpts from Frenster]:

2004:
Thanks to thoz who voted for me and supported me. I will do my best for the Tamil Language and for the Tamil Community. I m glad that as a Tamil gal i was able to bring the pride to my community.

2005:
Hi guys i tried my best and have realized that media industry does not respect or bother about talent. They just do programmes with whoever . Although i can speak good tamil nobody used me for their show for this reason. I'm really disappointed and wish to tell you'll that in singapore good talents are being wasted away and we need to do something about it. Seriously!!

2006:
Hi pple now I'm doing Padigal drama after my return from india.I'm a much focused person now I know what i want and what i need to do so look out for more of me this year as i chose my roles with great discretion.