Miss Universe India to grace Miss Universe Nagaland pageant

The highly anticipated Miss Universe Nagaland 2025 pageant is set to be held on June 10 at the Regional Centre of Excellence for Music & Performing Arts (RCEMPA), Jotsoma. The event will determine the state’s official representative for the Miss Universe India national pageant.
Adding a significant highlight to this year’s edition, the reigning Miss Universe India, Rhea Singha, arrived in Kohima on June 9 to serve as a guest judge for the competition. Shortly after her arrival, a media interaction was held at Hotel Vivor, Kohima, where she shared her thoughts and expectations.
Singha expressed her delight at being in Nagaland and recalled her association with Ruopfuzhano Whiso, Miss Universe India 4th Runner-Up 2024. She praised the natural beauty of the state and commended the enthusiasm shown by the people of Nagaland towards pageantry. She noted that the contestants this year appeared strong and well-prepared, and said she was looking forward to witnessing the competition.
She underscored the broader significance of pageantry beyond glamour and competition, stating that the Miss Universe platform supports a variety of causes. “It is also about tourism, and about making people aware of who we are and where we come from,” she said. According to Singha, that sense of cultural sharing and advocacy is one of the most beautiful aspects of pageantry.
Director of Franchise Operations for Miss Universe India, Amjad Khan, who also accompanied Singha, shared that their 2025 journey began with the First Aid Pageant in Uttar Pradesh on March 30. He mentioned that the Nagaland event would be the 21st or 22nd stage in their national campaign and noted a longstanding association with the Beauty and Aesthetic Society of Nagaland (BASN), the organiser of the state-level pageant.
Khan also highlighted that auditions were now being conducted within the state itself rather than in metro cities, thereby making the opportunity more accessible to local aspirants. He expressed hope that more young women from Nagaland would come forward to participate in future editions.
Sharing insights into her own journey in pageantry, she said that as someone who was once extremely shy and introverted, she had transformed those qualities into strengths. Her approach during the question-and-answer rounds, she said, was to be “natural, real and raw” — something she believed made her stand out and built her confidence. “People like listening when you’re real,” she said, encouraging contestants to embrace authenticity and openness.
Singha also addressed the evolving perception of beauty pageants in society. She stated that while there were still misconceptions surrounding pageantry, it had grown to encompass far more than appearances. It was now about using one’s voice to advocate for causes and to raise awareness on social issues. She emphasised that participants should be free to pursue their own dreams, whether or not they involved pageantry. “Everyone has freedom of choice, and I think that is very important in today’s day and age,” she stated.
Referring to events like the Hornbill Festival, Singha pointed out that pageantry was now an integral part of cultural celebrations in Nagaland. She lauded this integration as a positive development, calling it a reflection of the growing awareness and acceptance of pageantry in society.
In conclusion, Singha reiterated that pageants offered a platform for young individuals to speak up and make a difference.