Tanushree is ready to sizzle in Ritu Kumar’s creations

Jamshedpur, May 31: The girl next-door will carry ethnic India into the heart of the rainforests.

Armed with ethnic ghagra cholis, sarees with traditional motifs and a few elegant evening gowns, India’s rustic charm will be the high point of Miss India-Universe Tanushree Dutta’s wardrobe at the grand finale of the Miss Universe contest at Ecuador.

Glass bangles, nose rings and folksy headgear, typical of rural India, are the add-ons to “our desi beauty” ensemble who plans to leave an indelible imprint of the rich Indian culture on the international map with the latest Ritu Kumar creations.

“Though she lost out in the traditional dress round held on May 25, where Miss Panama walked away the top honours, Tanushree managed to secure a place among the top 10 contestants out of 79 participants,” said Shikha Dutta, Tanushree’s mother. “Her wardrobe comprises a select collection of casual wear by a Mumbai-based designer and the rest of her costumes have been designed by Ritu Kumar,” she added.

“Kumar and Tanushree have been working together right from their association at the Lakme India Fashion Week and the two get along very well,” chipped in Tapan Kumar Dutta, Tanushree’s father. “Her entire wardrobe was picked with a lot of care and the trials for her costumes were hectic, she had told us. She had been shuttling between Mumbai and Delhi soon after the Miss India contest for the trials,” Dutta explained.

While most of Tanushree’s apparel and accessories were picked up by Kumar, Tanushree herself included some of the add-ons for her clothes, her parents said.

“She shopped for the maang-teeka and glass bangles to give the perfect Indian touch. However, she could not find the original liquid kumkum anywhere in the metros and so she asked us to send her a pack from here,” Shikha said.

“Though the red sticker bindis are available, Tanushree wanted something original and so we sent it to her at the earliest,” she added.

The final show will, however, see the 5 feet 7 inches tall dusky Indian beauty clad in an intricate ghagra choli worth Rs 2 lakh.

(Live telecast on June 2, Star World)