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.
Rajat Bedi of
Punjab was the first winner. In the Little Miss & Master India Pageant, Mishika Sonkar and Shaurya Saraswat won the juniors’ division, and Tithi Surti and Nikhil Chhabria won in the seniors’ category. He also won two sub-awards at the contest including Sharmoon Best Dressed Gentleman Award and Best in National Costume. 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, 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 model in India and starred in
Bollywood films.
Winners of Gladrags Manhunt India Representatives to Manhunt International • The winner of the Gladrags Manhunt represents India at Manhunt International, but if for any reason the winner is unable to compete then a runner up is sent to the pageant.
Representatives to Best Model of the World • The winner of the Gladrags Manhunt represents India at the Best Model of the World contest, but if for any reason the winner is unable to compete then a runner up is sent to the pageant.
Photographs of some notable winners of Gladrags Manhunt Contest File:DinoMorea.jpg|
Dino Morea, Gladrags Manhunt India 1995 and
Manhunt International 1995 - 1st Runner Up File:Zulfi Syed at the opening of Fluke store.jpg|
Zulfi Syed, Gladrags Mahnunt India 1996-97 and
Manhunt International 1997 - 4th Runner Up File:JohnAbraham.jpg|
John Abraham, Gladrags Manhunt India 1999 and
Manhunt International 1999 - 1st Runner Up File:Sidharth Shukla (cropped).jpg|
Sidharth Shukla, Best Model of the World 2005 and Gladrags Best Model 2004 runner-up ==Gladrags Mega model Contest==