MUMBAI: Zee English will telecast the Miss Universe live and exclusive on 4 June 2003 at 7:30 am with a repeat at 8:30 pm.
Zee English and MGM said business head Ashvini Yardi was quoted as saying: "Zee English will telecast the Miss Universe pageant for the fourth time in a row and is indeed proud to be associated with the worlds top-most beauty pageant. There is a lot of feel good factor associated with the Miss Universe Beauty pageant in India because of the exemplary performances of former representatives from India at the pageant."
Zee officials have confirmed that the channel will air a special Miss Universe curtain raiser on 1 June between 9-10 pm. They add that this curtain raiser will include soundbites from Nikita Anand, Femina Miss India who will be representing India.
Femina Miss India Nikita Anand
Officials confirm that the channel had spoken to Anand before she left for Panama City. The curtain-raiser will include reactions from her designers, her trainers, dietician, her family, friends and well wishers - having their say on Nikita and how they are looking forward to the pageant.
Zee English had done some ground promotions to coincide with Anand's Mumbai visit. The release also states that enthusiastic well wishers had lined up in droves to support the charming Miss Universe contestant.
A life size good-luck card was presented to her by Zee English and Zee MGM brand manager Jay Sampat before she left for Panama City. This life size good luck card was taken to different hot spots in Mumbai where thousands of Mumbaities penned their good luck wishes, claim Zee officials.
"Our effort through the 'Good luck campaign was to translate this feeling into a concrete effort and record our support to the Indian flag bearer. While we wish Nikita Anand the very best for the winning the title, we also acknowledge with gratitude the unprecedented support we got for the 'Good luck campaign'," Yardi added.
While receiving the card, an ebullient Nikita reflected that with the prayers and support of her fellow Indians, she would win the coveted crown and make it a third time for India. The Miss Universe title was twice won by two Indian women - first by Sushmita Sen in 1994 and then Lara Dutta in 2000.
On-air promos and outdoor campaigns for the live telecast of the pageant are already on.
