The Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest is an annual unisex pageant conducted by the Indian Gladrags magazine. The most appealing male and female models are selected and promoted by the magazine. They first conduct a round of selection from the regions and then post all the elimination rounds for the final contestants. The group undergoes training including physical fitness, grooming, catwalk, diction and speech.

Gladrags Manhunt Contest

History

The Gladrags Contest is an annual modeling event established in the early 1990s by Maureen Wadia, wife of industrialist Nusli Wadia, who owns Bombay Dyeing, one of India’s oldest textile companies. Initially started to support Bombay Dyeing’s promotional efforts, Maureen Wadia created the Gladrags magazine, which functioned both as a fashion publication and a men’s magazine, featuring swimsuit images of models. The Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest, organized by the magazine, quickly became popular, later expanding to include additional competitions like Mrs. India and Little Miss and Master contests. The contest provided Bombay Dyeing with a steady source of models for its products, including bath and bed linens, while winners gained visibility that could launch careers in modeling or film. Unlike other beauty pageants, Gladrags contest was notable for its focus on the swimsuit round, with winners often featured on the magazine cover. The first Gladrags Manhunt Contest India was held in 1994. Rajat Bedi of Punjab was the first winner. He represented India at Manhunt International 1994 held in Greece and was awarded 4th Runner Up in the finale. At the 2017 event held at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai, winners across various categories were crowned. For the Little Miss & Master India Pageant, Mishika Sonkar and Shaurya Saraswat won in the juniors’ division, while Tithi Surti and Nikhil Chhabria won in the seniors’ category. Arni Sapkal won the Mrs. India Mumbai title, and Hina Azad and Bobby Vij were named winners of the Megamodel Manhunt Mumbai Pageant.

International achievements

In 2001, Rajeev Singh of Rajasthan became the first Asian and Indian to win the Manhunt International contest. He also won two sub-awards at the contest including Sharmoon Best Dressed Gentleman Award and Best in National Costume. After his victory he established himself in the Indian fashion industry as a successful model. India has produced many runners-up at the pageant, most notably Dino Morea, Zulfi Syed and John Abraham, all of whom have since established themselves in the Bollywood industry. The contest has also given India some of the finest models ever seen by Indian fashion industry like supermodel Muzamil Ibrahim, actor and model Sidharth Shukla, model Farhad Shahnawaz, actor and model Abhimanyu Jain, 4th runner up Manhunt International 2006 and Arry Dabas, semifinalist in 2012. Other notable winners include Romeo Gates, Ahran Chaudhary and Ravi Awana. In 2005, Sidharth Shukla, runner-up of Gladrags Manhunt 2004, represented India at the Best Model Of The World contest held in Turkey and became the first Indian to win the title. Later Shukla became a famous model in India and star in the Indian film industry.

Winners of Gladrags Manhunt India

Representatives to Manhunt International

Representatives to Best Model of the World

Photographs of some notable winners of Gladrags Manhunt Contest

Gladrags Mega model Contest

History

The first Mega model contest was held in 1994, and girls all across the country competed for the coveted title. Shweta Menon of Kerala was declared the winner. Lara Dutta later established herself as a leading Bollywood actress.

Winners

Representatives to Miss Intercontinental

Representatives to Miss Tourism International

Representatives to Miss Tourism Queen International

Representatives to Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International

Representatives to Best Model of the World