Shirin Akter Shela has been crowned Miss Universe Bangladesh at the grand finale of the first-ever competition in the country, at International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka.
The winner was crowned by Bollywood actor Sushmita Sen, who herself won the title of Miss Universe in 1994.
Alisha Islam was announced as the first runner up of the competition and the second runner up title went to Jessia Islam. The other contestants in the top ten were Tamanna Ishrat Sohani, Maria Mumu, Sanowar Tayefa, Afla Arman, Irana Ishrat, Smriti Akter, and Toshiba Anita Islam.
The winner Shela will represent Bangladesh in the main event of 68th Miss Universe competition, to be held in United States this December. This will be the first time Bangladesh will participate in the main event of the competition.
Judges of this grand event were Bollywood actor Sushmita Sen, who won the main event of 1994 Miss Universe competition, singer Tahsan Khan, Persona’s Managing Director Kaniz Almas, President of Bangladesh Heritage Craft Tootli Rahman, Founder of Pulse Health Care Rubaba Dowla, Managing Director of Green Delta Insurance Farzanah Chowdhury, Managing Director of Flora Bank Rafiul Islam, commentator and former cricketer Athar Ali Khan, Former Miss Ventura County California & Johnson County USA Star Faruque, and Dr Zareen Delawar Hussain.
Earlier on October 15, the crown of Miss Universe Bangladesh was unveiled in a gala event held in Amisheé Fine Jewelry store in Gulshan of Dhaka.
The registration of contestants began in the end of July. The first round of audition started with over 12,000 registrations. Then the elimination process started and after three months of boot camp a winner was finally chosen.
The franchise owner for Miss Universe,is a consortium between Riz Events, Off Track and Trilogy. Rizwan Bin Farouq is the chairman of Miss Universe Bangladesh and Sohel A Chaklader Duke, Shafik Islam and Mithun Zaman are directors of the company.
Source: Dhaka Tribune, 10/24/2019