By Santosh Digal

Manila, Jan. 10, 2019: Thousands of Indians living in the Philippines are gearing up to cheer up Suman Chellani from the country contesting in the 47th Miss Intercontinental 2018.

Manila, the Philippines capital, will host the contest on January 26.

“She was my student in Gujarat. I am proud that she is participating in this beauty pageant,” Canossian Brother Prakash Mor, told Matters India on January 10.

Mor, who is from Gujarat, is currently doing his studies in Manila. He said all Indians in the Philippines are happy to support and encourage Chellani, who arrived in Manila on January 6.

There are about 32,606 Indians live in this Christian-majority country. Most of them are Punjabis and Sindhis who do business, or work in various profession. Some are students, according to Philippine Bureau of Immigration Report (October 2018).

Filipinos and the Indian diaspora in the Philippines still recall India’s Sushmita Sen getting crowned as the Miss Universe 1994 in Manila.

Chellani is the first girl from Gujarat and first from Sindhi community to represent India in Intercontinental beauty pageant. She will compete with representatives from 85 other countries for the Miss Intercontinental 2018 title.

In a video message, Chellani said, “The road ahead is a journey full of glory, pride and responsibility; I owe gratitude to millions of Indians and centuries-old legacy of India that reside in my heart as an inspiration.”

The 27-year=old hails from Ahmedabad, the commercial capital of Gujarat state in western India. The alumnus of St Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, is a model and anchor. She has as Master’s in Business Administration (Human Resources) from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, in 2013. He has also earned diploma in French and Aviation, Hospitality and Travel Management.

Chellani has also had experience of working in the Hindi Films. Some time ago, she released two albums of her own, namely “Hindustan” and “Tereaane se”. She can speak Hindi, English, Gujarati, Sindhi and French languages.

Besides Miss Intercontinental, the other famous beauty pageants are Miss Universe, Miss Super-national, Miss International, Miss Grand International, Miss Globe International, and Miss World.