It has been an eventful journey by Mega Entertainment in the world of beauty and brains, albeit with a cause, since 2003. This year too, it was no different as it hosted the 8th Mega Miss North East beauty pageant at Shilpgram, Panjabari in Guwahati the other day in association with Rajbari Nattraj Troupe & Purnima Handicraft. Styled and powered by fashion designer and choreographer Abhijit Singha, the beauty pageant has always strived to showcase the beauty of the Northeast unity by bringing together talents of the region for the crown in a healthy competition. Child care was the theme this year, with the winner all set to visit the northeastern states throughout the year to promote the cause with active support from Airtel, the corporate partner of the event in 2010.

The beautiful evening that was part of the Shilp Utsav at Shilpgram, saw Punam Kalita of Assam walk away with the winner’s crown, while Soma Laishram and Sangreela Maisnam (both from Manipur) were adjudged the first and second runners-up respectively. The judges panel cosisted of reputed fashion designer Hemant Trevedi, super model and former Mr India World Kawaljit Singh, Airtel’s Northeast head Sudipto Chowdhury and social activist Nilakshi Baruah.

A number of subtitles were also up for grabs. While the differently abled children of Ashadeep, Guwahati chose the Airtel Loving & Caring Personality that went to Cathrine Kikon of Nagaland, Soma won the Shilpgram Best Traditional Attire subtitle. The other winners were Arunachal’s Sange Choton Thongon — Bimal Store Miss Congeniality, Sukanya Duarah (Assam) — Sky Aviation Miss Personality, Sangreela — Fastrack Travels Miss Catwalk and Kaya Clinic Beautiful Skin and Punam — Zoom Miss Photogenic.

There were in all 22 contestants who took the stage in different rounds in colourful traditional attires, charming sarees, evening gowns, etc, bringing on one single platform the resplendence of the region. Then there were entertainment items like the musical soiree by the Meghalaya band NE Rempai as also some scintillating Punc-cholom from Manipur, where the performers enthralled the audience with their acrobatic and rhythmic display with drums, and Sikkim’s captivating yak dance called Singi Cham.

Armed with the success of Mega Miss North East, Abhijit is now preparing for his upcoming events Mega Mr North East and a beauty pageant for the children.

Bornali Konwar