Shonali, an LSR history graduate, aspired to become a lecturer at one point of time, before pursuing a career in TV. She turned down three movie offers, preferring to concentrate on her current platform and responsibilities as Sunsilk Femina Miss India International.
Shonali lists dancing, reading, travelling, listening to music, horse-riding and swimming among her interests, she describes physical beauty as a gift-wrapper. Physical beauty only makes the first impression. True beauty is one with depth, intelligence, values, kindness and integrity -- these attributes don't fade, but only grow with time, she says.

Aspiring to be a lecturer teaching history, Shonali is confident of balancing a successful career and a happy married life. Confident, strong, intelligent and yet humble, she does admit candidly to being stubborn and impatient.

Aarti Chabria: Miss India Worldwide, 2000

A stiff competetion between participants from over 20 countries at The ninth annual Miss India Worldwide pageant, hosted in Rahway, New Jersey, on Nov. 27 saw Aarti Chabria, Miss India, 2000, finally emerge as the victor. She walked away with the title, and also $2,000 cash, gold jewelry and two round-trip tickets from Air-India.

The first runner-up was Miss India-U.S.A. Sharan Gill and second runner-up was Miss India-Hong Kong, Anupama Anand

The requirements for the contestants were that they be between ages 17 and 27, never married, and citizens, residents, or born in the country which they represented. The contestants were judged in four categories -- evening gown, Indian dress, talent and question-and-answer.

According to the founder of the organization, Dharmatama Saran, the event collected $3,000 for Orissa cyclone relief this year.