Rajnandini Pawar Crowned Femina Miss India Maharashtra 2026, Hosted by Future Varsity Education Group of Institutions

The spectacular high-fashion finale merges glamour with a powerful new initiative to promote the vision of Maharashtra Tourism.

Mumbai, 17 February 2026 - Future Varsity Education Group proudly presented the Femina Miss India Maharashtra 2026 State Finale in an evening defined by couture glamour, elevated stage artistry, and contemporary Indian elegance. Hosted by Future Varsity Education education group under the vision and direction of the Miss India Organization, The TImes Group, the prestigious showcase was held in Mumbai at the  Bal Gandharva Rangmandir Auditorium, bringing together the finest blend of fashion, confidence, innovation, and purpose-driven modern womanhood.

In a historic milestone for Indian higher education, Future Varsity Education Group (FVEG) has been granted the official license to host and organize Femina Miss India state pageants across the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana. The entire event was exclusively managed by Future Varsity students, offering them unparalleled real-world exposure to one of India’s most iconic platforms. From strategic planning and production to creative direction, styling, backstage coordination, media handling, and on-ground execution, students take the lead in shaping the Femina Miss India experience in their respective states. This initiative exemplifies Future Varsity’s industry-integrated learning model, where education extends far beyond classrooms into high-impact, large-scale experiential projects.

Headquartered in Mumbai with operations in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Dubai, Future Varsity Education Group stands at the forefront of new-age higher education. In collaboration with the University of Mumbai and affiliated institutions, central universities, and global academic partners, Future Varsity delivers industry-focused, globally relevant programs that seamlessly combine academic excellence with professional readiness. With an A++ NAAC-accredited university partner and over 15,000 successful alumni, the group has firmly established itself as a leader in experiential learning and industry immersion.

Students from Future Varsity’s diverse verticals - NAEMD, NASM, NAFDI, GAPA, LSI, IMSR, and LivGlobal - collaborate seamlessly to organise the event under the guidance and supervision of Miss India Organization, The Times Group. This partnership embodies the institution’s forward-thinking approach and the pageant’s commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and youth-driven excellence. Promoting the Vision of Maharashtra Tourism. Aligning with the vision of Maharashtra Tourism, Future Varsity is stepping beyond fashion to actively promote the state's rich culture and heritage through the finalists of the pageant.

The evening opened with a powerful recap of the state selection journey - featuring 10 large-scale auditions across Mumbai and Pune, witnessing participation from 700+ contestants, and culminating in the selection of the Top 16 finalists from Maharashtra, each representing ambition, individuality, and next-generation leadership.

The stage came alive with the Finalist Introduction Round, followed by the technically polished Ramp Walk Round, expressive Introduction Round, and an engaging Q&A Round, offering a complete showcase of beauty, intellect, confidence, and stage command.

Celebrating individuality and standout attributes, sub-category titles were announced:

• Miss Beautiful Smile - Parinaz Cooper

• Miss Glowing Skin - Samaira Shah

• Miss Rampwalk - Aarya Khairnar

• Miss Photogenic - Tamanna Bharat

• Miss Congeniality -Parinaz Cooper

The defining moment of the evening arrived with the grand Crowning Moment, where Rajnandini Pawar was officially crowned Miss India Maharashtra 2026, marking the beginning of her journey toward the national stage.

The prestigious finale was evaluated by an eminent jury panel comprising celebrated names across fashion, business, social impact, and wellness. The panel included renowned Fashion Designer Ken Ferns, Titleholder Nikita Porwal (Femina Miss India World 2024), Natasha Grover (Brand & Operations Head, International Pageants, Miss India Organization, The Times Group),  Mehermeet Kaur (Femina Miss India Haryana 2023), Wellness and Lifestyle Mentor Parinita Mehta of MDM Group, Industry Leader Nimish Ajmera of Ajmera Group of Companies, and Arshia Rashid, (Femina Miss India Maharashtra & West 2024). Their collective expertise ensured a holistic, merit-driven evaluation celebrating not just beauty, but intelligence, purpose, and personality.

Sharing her thoughts on the platform’s legacy, Nikita Porwal said, “Femina Miss India has continued standing true to its vision of empowering talents and championing womenhood. Witnessing the finalist perform with such confidence and courage was truly rewarding and heartening. I congratulate the organisers for putting up a good show.”

The platform’s vision and execution are further strengthened by the leadership and guidance of the Board of Directors, including Dr. Balkishan Sharma, Founder and Chairman, Mr. Pravin Joshi, Founder Director along with Directors Mr. Vipul Solanki, Ms. Suchi Kothari, Mr. Paras Mehta, Mr. Jatin Asher, Mr. Jayesh Gada, Mr. Vishwadeep Newton, Mr. Gopal C. Sharma, Mr. Sumeet Singhania, and Shakir Shaikh – Fashion Choreographer, Show Director for the evening & Director, Nest Academy of Modelling & Grooming (NAMG), Dr. Sneha Asar & Mr. Rishi Sharma whose collective expertise across education, business, creative direction, and strategic leadership continues to elevate the Femina Miss India Maharashtra platform to new benchmarks of excellence.

This historic edition is proudly supported by our valued partners — Yuri Woori (Co-powered by), Kosmoderma (Associate Partner), Dentokraftt (Smile Care Partner), Hello Student (Accommodation Partner), Big FM (Radio Partner), and The Sports Gurukul (Fitness Partner), in association with Face of Mumbai and Modcast. Their collaboration elevates the platform, empowering our finalists to shine at their absolute best.

The grand finale was evaluated by a distinguished panel of industry leaders across fashion, business, wellness, and social impact, ensuring a holistic and merit-driven selection process. With strong presence from the fashion fraternity, media, and cultural influencers, the evening reaffirmed the platform’s legacy as India’s most aspirational gateway to global pageantry - seamlessly merging education, industry, and empowerment under the visionary leadership of Future Varsity Education Group.

The Femina Miss India Maharashtra State Finale 2026 continues to stand as a symbol of aspiration - where fashion meets purpose, and dreams step confidently onto a national runway.