Former TVNZ presenter wins Miss India title

Sindhura Gadde during her 'Flipside' days at TV2.

A former TVNZ presenter, who has lived most of her life in New Zealand, has won the title of Miss India World 2005.

Sindhura Gadde, 20, a presenter for cancelled TV2 show Flipside, travelled to India a month ago to compete in the Miss India pageant.

She came second at the final in Mumbai and will don the India sash at the next Miss World, at Sanya, China.

The winner, Amrita Thappar, received the title of Miss India Universe.

India New Zealand pageant organiser Dharmesh Parikh said many local Indians were confused by Miss Gadde's participation in the Mumbai event.

"I've had many phone calls within the community, with people asking how she can represent India at a major international pageant when she's relatively a Kiwi girl," he said.

Miss Gadde emigrated to New Zealand with her parents about 9 years ago from the city of Vijaywada, and has only visited India once in the last 9 years.

She was eligible to take part in the Indian pageant because she was born in India and lived at least one year of her life there.

The Auckland University pharmacy and physiology graduate told a website she was attracted to the Miss India competition because its focus "was always to groom, refine and prepare contestants to take on the world and represent our country with great elegance".

Her sister Manjeera, who stayed in Auckland, rejected claims that Sindhura should not represent India.

"Being an Indian and born in India, she has the culture. And being brought up in New Zealand, she has the best of both worlds."

Indian women have won the Miss World crown five times - more than any other nation.

Miss Gadde will stay in India until the Miss World pageant in December.

News of Miss Gadde's win stunned her former boss, TVNZ producer Jude Anaru.

Last night, she said she was "absolutely thrilled".

"Sindy was always doing her degree at the same time as she was working (for Flipside).

"We were struck by her beauty and her ability."

She said she had discovered Miss Gadde about a year ago, reading the news on an Auckland Indian television station.

She had been impressed with her ability to relate to the camera.

"She just had this telly thing."

Miss Gadde was placed in both Miss Auckland and Miss India New Zealand contests and had a short stint on TV, with presenting roles at TVNZ and Triangle TV.

She lists among her previous modelling assignments the Australian and New Zealand fashion weeks.

* Last year's winner of the title also provoked controversy. Laxmi Pandit handed back her crown after allegations surfaced that she pretended to be married in order to rent a Bombay apartment.

- additional reporting, David Eames