Miss World jury was unfair, says Parvathy

Congratulations poured for Parvathy Omanakuttan for making "India proud" despite missing the Miss World 2008
crown by a whisker but the lanky Kerala beauty feels she was done in by the jury alleging that its decision to adjudge her only second best was "unfair".

"I have performed better than others in the personality and question-answer round. This is not just that. All those who watched it yesterday felt like that. I feel the jury's decision was unfair", Parvathy(21), who was adjudged the first runner up from among 108 contestants at the Miss World pageant in Johannesburg, told Kerala's India Vision channel.

"I had confidence. I could do well. The question-round did not come as a challenge to me considering my background in literature," said Parvathy, who hails from Changanassery in Kottayam in "God's own Country", as hopes soared in India that she would bring back the coveted title which was last won by an Indian girl in 2000 when her name was announced in the five semi-finalists.

There were mixed emotions at Parvathy's mother's home in Madapally village in Changanassery. Some relatives felt she deserved to win the title ahead of the Russian blonde Ksenya Sukhinova while others thought it was a proud moment for India for coming second position warding off competition from over 100 beauties from around the world.

"Well done Parvathy! We are all proud of u!!! Successful exit matters more than a favourable entrance.... U made urself count... another feather in India's cap..," a fan commented on the official website of the Miss World contest.

Another comment noted that though the Malayalee did not win the crown her coming second was a splendind achievement overcoming stiff competition.

"We are proud of you!," the mail said.

Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999) and Priyanka Chopra (2000) were the previous five Indian beauty queens who had won the coveted title.

A compatriot from Kerala wrote to the 5 feet 9 inch- tall Parvathy that she wishes to send her "oaraayiram poochendukal, Parvathii, ellavidha ashamsakalum" (1,000 bouquets and all the very best wishes).

Another fan, Malavika wrote that the feat was "still an amazing achievement!!!"

"Best of luck for the future!!!! I am a pageant freak and I was so happy that our country made a mark at Miss World 2008. waiting for your return!!!!!!!!," she wrote.

Parvathy, hailing from Kottayam, grew up in Mumbai. Having graduated in Arts, she has studied Sociology, Psychology
& English Literature.

Parvathy's ambition is to further her studies in Psychology to learn more about human behaviour in depth, her bio-data on the website says.

The lanky beauty is an ardent sports fan with a special interest in basketball, badminton and swimming.

She has a special talent for whistling. She likes listening to music, singing, reading, glass painting, acting, modelling, dancing (varying from local dances to ballroom and Latin dances) and learning new languages.

Parvathy is also very fond of a beautiful quote by former President APJ Abdul Kalam 'Dreams are not what you see in your sleep, but dreams are that, which do not allow you to sleep', hence her motto in life is 'Dream with your eyes open'.