Miss India USA Pageant is produced by the IFC, based in New York City. The IFC began its first annual “India Festival” in Central Park, New York City, in 1974. An integral component of these festivals were the immensely popular “Fashion Show”, which was the first to be provided to the Indian and American communities by the IFC.
By 1979, the “Fashion Show” had become so popular that it was proposed to start the first ever Miss India USA Pageant from 1980. The various groups/organizations in the major cities of USA were contacted to start Indian pageants in various states and send the winner to New York to compete for Miss India USA. The pageant was an instant success and has been acclaimed as “the most glamorous Indian function in the country.”
Starting from the basement of Air-India with an audience of twenty people, we have come a long way! Air-India has remained our staunch supporter from day one and helped us tremendously in our growth nationally and internationally.
In line with other prestigious national pageants, we have also started staging Miss India USA in other parts of the country. The pageant has been previously held in Los Angles, Dallas, San Jose, New Jersey and Tampa besides New York City.
Many of our past winners have made a name in the Indian and American movies and television and in the modeling world. Our past winners have also become lawyers, CPA’s, engineers, business entrepreneurs, doctors and homemakers.
The contestants of the pageant are girls of Indian origin, between the ages of 18 to 30, never married and living in the USA. The pageant consists of four segments-Evening Gown, Indian Dress, Talent and Question/Answer. The winner of Miss India USA is the only delegate from USA at the Miss India Worldwide Pageant, which is also organized by the IFC. Miss India Worldwide is the only international Indian pageant.
The IFC motivates and guides its winners and contestants to take up charitable causes. Many of our past winners have raised substantial amount of funds for various charities, especially for handicapped children.