Bhubaneswar: Odia girl Sonika Roy, the Femina Miss India finalist and winner of Miss India Asia Pacific International 2017, will soon be representing India at Miss Asia Pacific International 2017 to be held in Philippines from November 10 to 30.
Roy received the invitation from Miss Asia Pacific International Organisation on October 20. She expressed her gratitude to the organization through social media for giving her such an opportunity.
Before her journey to the island country, she met Governor Dr S C Jamir at Raj Bhawan on Tuesday. “It’s my honour to meet the Governor. Really happy and proud to be born in Odisha and above all represent India at Philippines for Miss Asia Pacific International 2017 along with participants from 60 other countries,” she told media.
Roy has been toiling hard to give her best in the competition. “I am spending 12 hours a day for the competition, unlike earlier times. If a girl from India, especially from Odisha, excels in an international event, it would be a real proud moment for all of us,” she added.
In this year’s edition, Tessa le Conge of the Netherlands will crown her successor.
An actress, Sonika was among the top three finalists in Femina Miss India -2017, which was eventually won by Christeena Biju.
India has won the pageant thrice in the past. The first Indian to win the title was Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman. She had achieved the feat in 1970. Then Tara Anne Fonseca had won the title in 1973. After a gap of 27 years, Diya Mirza had bagged it in 2000.
