Three Nations, One Crown: Oshaani Khetarpal Wins Miss India South Pacific 2026 in Auckland

A Māori welcome, colourful performances and personal stories brought New Zealand, Fiji and Australia together for the inaugural finale at Auckland Town Hall.

By Webfit News | 24 October 2026

New Zealand medical student Oshaani Khetarpal was crowned Spectrum Legal Miss India South Pacific 2026 at Auckland Town Hall on Friday, 23 October, bringing an evening of culture, talent and celebration to a memorable finish.

Dressed in a bright pink lehenga with gold embroidery, Oshaani stood crowned and smiling, holding a generous bouquet as fellow contestants and guests gathered around her.

Serena Sharma, representing New Zealand, was named first runner-up, while Australia’s Gurleen Kaur took second runner-up.

The inaugural grand finale at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, brought together women from New Zealand, Fiji and Australia, each carrying her own ambitions, experiences and connection to Indian heritage.

Her Excellency Ms Muanpuii Saiawi, High Commissioner of India to New Zealand, attended as chief guest.

A Māori welcome opens the celebration

The evening opened with a kapa haka performance, bringing Māori culture to the beginning of the three-nation celebration.

Against a backdrop of New Zealand coastlines, mountains and lakes, the performers combined expressive gestures and coordinated movement, with guitar accompaniment during the musical segment. Black and red garments and woven piupiu added to the distinctive presentation.

The focus then turned to the contestants, who took the stage individually to showcase their talents. Each performance offered another glimpse of their personality and creativity, with Fiji’s Darshana Lal going on to receive the Miss Talent award.

The wider entertainment programme moved through dance and live music. Dancers in purple costumes formed a striking tableau with flower props beneath blue and violet lighting, while another group performed in black tops and flowing cream trousers.

Live singing, accompanied by guitar and keyboard, added another dimension to the evening.

Colour and detail on the runway

The runway extended into the audience, bringing the outfits close to those seated on either side. Flowing gowns, richly embroidered lehengas and elegant sarees filled the room with shades of red, blue, silver, green and gold.

A pale blue gown swept out across the stage as its wearer turned, while a royal blue ensemble stood out with gold detailing. Colourful floral outfits, embroidered jackets and a green turban brought variety to the paired presentations.

The Cultural Round reflected the participation of New Zealand, Fiji and Australia, giving contestants a shared stage for different expressions of heritage and style.

Between the performances and presentations, the judges’ questions brought the women’s values and personal experiences into focus.

Hemant Parikh keeps the evening connected

Guiding the programme was Hemant Parikh, the Radio Tarana presenter and elder brother of producer Dharmesh Parikh.

As emcee, Hemant brought warmth and an easy connection with the audience. He kept the evening moving between performances, contestant appearances and the formal competition, helping the different parts of the programme flow together.

His engaging presence gave continuity to an evening with many moving parts, while keeping attention on the contestants and their moment on stage.

Oshaani champions health literacy

Asked which cause she would champion through the Miss India South Pacific platform, Oshaani chose health literacy.

The fourth-year University of Auckland medical student drew on her clinical placements, speaking about the importance of people having access to reliable, understandable information about their health.

She described seeing patients with advanced illness and reflected on how a lack of clear information could affect their ability to understand and manage their health.

Her proposed response went beyond raising awareness online. She wanted to work with schools, universities, community programmes and doctors, speak at events and engage directly with people.

It was a practical answer, connecting her medical training with a purpose for the title: helping trustworthy health information reach the communities that need it.

Previously Miss IndiaNZ 2025 first runner-up, Oshaani also brings experience in modelling, youth mentoring, dance and theatre, alongside aspirations in neurosurgery.

Serena and Gurleen complete the top three

First runner-up Serena Sharma balances study, professional work, sport and entrepreneurship.

A University of Auckland commerce student majoring in marketing and management, she is also a marketing professional and premier netball player. Her background connects New Zealand, Indian and Fijian heritage.

Second runner-up Gurleen Kaur is an intensive care nurse based in Melbourne. Originally from Ludhiana, Punjab, she progressed to the Auckland finale after being selected among the top seven finalists at Miss India South Pacific Australia 2026.

Together, the top three reflected the different paths represented throughout the competition, from healthcare and business to sport and the creative arts.

Spectrum Legal Miss India South Pacific 2026 results

• Winner: Oshaani Khetarpal, New Zealand

• First runner-up: Serena Sharma, New Zealand

• Second runner-up: Gurleen Kaur, Australia

• Miss Personality: Khushi Bulsara, Fiji

• Miss Potential Model: Ravneet Kaur, Australia

• Miss Photogenic: Devi Divakala, Australia

• Miss Talent: Darshana Lal, Fiji

• People’s Choice: Shomal Naidu, Fiji

Personal stories give the questions meaning

The question-and-answer round explored leadership, rejection, cultural values, confidence and the pressures facing young people.

Several contestants drew on experiences that made their answers personal and relatable.

Australia’s Saisha Sethi, a dancer, choreographer and law and international studies student, recalled organising her first dance workshop and having only one person attend.

The experience was disappointing, but she chose to continue. Her message was that fear of failure should not stop someone from trying, because taking that first chance is how people discover what they can achieve.

New Zealand’s Mahi Desai also spoke about setbacks. She encouraged young people to give themselves permission to feel disappointed without giving themselves permission to give up.

Drawing on her own experiences, she emphasised that rejection does not diminish a person’s worth.

For Jiya Gandhi, the Indian value she wanted to carry into everyday life was seva, or selfless service.

The AUT law student connected that principle to her volunteering with Citizens Advice Bureau. Giving time regularly, she explained, could make a meaningful difference to the people around her.

Fiji’s Mannishka Shannon Lal spoke about kindness in leadership, describing how encouragement from her employers and family had helped her balance work, study and participation in the pageant.

Her answer highlighted the importance of recognising another person’s capabilities and supporting them to grow.

Finding confidence without comparison

The influence of social media emerged repeatedly during the questions.

Miss Personality winner Khushi Bulsara spoke about young people comparing their appearance, education, creativity and achievements with others.

She wanted to encourage a different conversation: everyone has their own timeline, and someone else’s progress should not become a reason to lose faith in your own.

Australia’s Sana Bhaskar raised concerns about online comparison, fear of missing out and the effect of digital habits on human connection.

New Zealand Police officer Karan Randhawa described positive role models as people who listen, act responsibly and encourage others through failure. Her answer also recognised the pressure young people face to imitate what they see online.

For Bhavya Sri Kurelli, confidence was rooted in preparation rather than appearance. Drawing on her experience as a Kuchipudi dancer, she spoke about trusting the dedication behind a performance and having the courage to be herself.

Fiji teacher and content creator Archana Shayal Lata reflected on balancing professional ambition with personal life. She spoke about her responsibilities in the classroom, her creative interests and the value of family understanding and support.

Across these answers, the contestants returned to similar concerns: how to pursue ambitions, stay connected to others and remain comfortable with who they are.

The judging panel

The grand finale’s judging panel comprised Maria Siayngco, Duane Evans, Parita Pathak-Bose, Ishant Ghulyani JP and Mahima Shukla-Chopra.

The question-and-answer round gave contestants an opportunity to share their views directly with the panel, discussing everything from health literacy and community service to leadership, confidence and handling rejection.

Dharmesh Parikh’s vision takes a regional stage

Behind the production was Dharmesh Parikh, the creator and driving force whose work with Rhythm House Events & Films has taken Miss IndiaNZ from its Auckland beginnings in 2002 to a platform connecting women across New Zealand, Fiji and Australia.

The inaugural South Pacific finale brought that concept to life through cultural performances, individual talent, fashion and conversations about the issues facing young women.

The evening reflected the breadth of the event he has built: a competition and an opportunity for contestants to perform, speak about what matters to them and form connections across borders.

Dharmesh also announced plans to introduce Mr India NZ in 2027, signalling another development for the platform.

Friday’s celebrations followed Thursday’s Spectrum Legal gala dinner, where contestants, sponsors and supporters had gathered before the competition.

By the close of the finale, the formal presentations had given way to congratulations, group photographs and guests gathering around the winners. Contestants stood shoulder to shoulder with their bouquets, while phones were raised to capture the occasion.

For Oshaani, the evening ended with the inaugural crown. Her answer to the judges had already offered a clear sense of how she hoped to use the opportunity: taking reliable health information beyond the stage and into the community.

More about Miss India South Pacific:

https://www.missindiasouthpacific.com/

Webfit Solutions Limited is a proud sponsor of Miss India South Pacific 2026, and Webfit News is the event’s media partner. We are pleased to support this celebration of culture, talent and community across New Zealand, Fiji and Australia.