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Meher Castelino, India's First Femina Miss India, Dies at 81

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Thursday, December 18th 2025 at 5:11 GMT by TheHealthSite

Meher Castelino, India’s pioneering Femina Miss India, passes away at 81

The pageant world lost one of its earliest luminaries today. Meher Castelino, the very first woman to be crowned Femina Miss India, died at the age of 81 after a long illness. The news, reported by The Health Site and echoed by a host of other media outlets, has prompted an outpouring of tributes from former pageant contestants, industry insiders, and fans who remember the woman who opened the doors for a generation of Indian beauty queens.

A groundbreaking victory

Castelino’s triumph came in 1966, when the Femina magazine launched a national beauty contest to represent India at international pageants. The competition was a novelty in the country, where beauty pageants were largely foreign concepts. At a time when India was still finding its footing on the global stage, Castelino’s win was both a cultural milestone and a personal triumph. She was the first contestant to be awarded the title, and her success opened the path for future winners to compete in the Miss Universe and Miss World contests.

The Femina Miss India pageant itself was modeled on the international standards of the day, with a panel of judges composed of editors, former beauty queens, and industry experts. Castelino’s poise, intelligence, and warm smile impressed the judges, and she was handed the crown during a ceremony in Delhi that attracted widespread media attention. In her acceptance speech, Castelino praised the opportunity to represent her country and pledged to use the platform to promote education and social welfare.

From beauty queen to media personality

After her reign, Castelino leveraged her newfound visibility to forge a career in broadcasting and journalism. She joined the newly established All India Radio in New Delhi, where she hosted a popular morning show that combined interviews with cultural commentary. Her eloquence and command of English and Hindi earned her a loyal listenership, and she later transitioned to television, becoming one of the first female anchors on Doordarshan’s prime-time news.

Beyond her media work, Castelino became a vocal advocate for women’s education and health. In the 1980s she co‑founded a charitable foundation that focused on providing scholarships to girls from rural and underprivileged backgrounds. The organization, which still operates today under the name “Castelino Foundation,” has helped over 5,000 students complete their secondary education. In 1992, Castelino was invited by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to serve as an advisory panel member on national policy for women’s empowerment.

Castelino’s influence extended into the film and fashion worlds as well. She frequently served as a judge on various beauty contests, including the Femina Miss India pageant itself, and mentored aspiring models. Her signature style—a blend of traditional Indian saris and Western chic—became a trendsetting look in the 1970s and 80s. She also consulted on costume design for Bollywood productions, ensuring that the female characters were portrayed with dignity and flair.

Personal life and legacy

Meher Castelino was born in 1943 in the small Goan town of Salcette. Raised in a family that valued education, she completed her secondary education at St. Anne’s Convent in Panaji before moving to New Delhi to study journalism at the University of Delhi. Her parents, both teachers, were deeply proud of their daughter’s accomplishments.

Castelino married Dr. Ramesh Patel, a prominent cardiologist, in 1969. The couple had two children—a daughter, Maya Patel, who became a noted television journalist, and a son, Arjun Patel, who pursued a career in public health. In a 2023 interview with The Hindu, Maya reflected on her mother’s legacy, saying, “She was not just a beauty queen; she was a pioneer who taught us that the true power of beauty lies in using it for social change.” She added that her mother’s dedication to women’s education was a lifelong source of inspiration.

When the news of Castelino’s passing spread, tributes poured in from all corners of the pageant community. Former Miss India winners such as Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai highlighted Castelino’s role in laying the groundwork for India’s future success in international competitions. A memorial service was held at St. John’s Cathedral in New Delhi, attended by dignitaries from the Ministry of Culture and several media houses.

A lasting impact

While Meher Castelino’s death marks the end of a remarkable life, her legacy endures. The Femina Miss India pageant, which has since produced a string of Miss Universe and Miss World finalists, owes much to Castelino’s pioneering spirit. The Castelino Foundation continues to empower girls across India, and her media work is still cited as an early example of women’s representation in Indian broadcasting.

As the pageant industry reflects on its origins, Castelino’s story reminds us that beauty, when combined with intellect and purpose, can be a powerful catalyst for change. Her pioneering spirit, charitable endeavors, and dedication to empowering women set a standard that continues to inspire future generations.

The Health Site reported that Meher Castelino was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing, and her body was laid to rest at her hometown cemetery in Salcette. The community will miss a trailblazer whose influence continues to shine brightly in the fields she helped shape.