Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Jul 16: Udupi's Spoorthi Shetty, an MBA graduate and marketing professional at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), has secured a coveted place in the Miss Universe India 2026 pageant through a wild card entry, marking another significant milestone in her inspiring journey in the world of beauty pageants.

Spoorthi Shetty’s journey to the national stage has been one of determination and perseverance. An introverted child who largely confined herself to school and home, she discovered confidence after her cousin, Manjeeth Shetty, started a dance academy, giving her the opportunity to perform on stage.

Spoorthi Shetty, addressing the press conference held on July 16, at Udupi Press Club, said, “My beauty pageant journey started at the age of 16, when I participated in my first beauty pageant at Udyavara. Although I did not secure a title, the experience only strengthened her resolve to pursue her dream of becoming a beauty queen.”

Over the years, Spoorthi Shetty steadily built an impressive pageant portfolio. In 2018, she finished among the top three in Miss Karnataka and went on to represent the state at the international level, where she secured a place among the top 10 and won the Miss South India title. She was crowned Queen Karnataka in 2020 and became the first runner-up at Miss International Universe in 2021.

In 2024, she reached the top 12 at Miss Grand India, followed by a top-10 finish in the Miss Universe India state-level competition in 2025. Earlier this year, she emerged as the first runner-up at Miss Universe Karnataka 2026, making her eligible for the wild card selection to Miss Universe India.

The Miss Universe India 2026 competition will commence on July 19 and conclude with the grand finale on August 23. The pageant will be held across multiple cities, including Jaipur, Bengaluru and Indore, before culminating in New Delhi. The winner will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Speaking about the competition, Spoorthi said the pageant will span nearly 40 days, beginning in Jaipur before moving to Bengaluru and Indore, with the finale in New Delhi.

She also expressed gratitude for the encouragement she has received from MAHE, where she has been working in outreach marketing for the past year. "My role involves representing MAHE across different states and countries, so I am often travelling. My organization and my team have been extremely supportive. Since I am also an alumna of MAHE, they see it as a matter of pride that a student from the institution is representing them on a national platform. They encouraged me to take the 40 to 50 days needed to pursue my dream and assured me that I should focus on achieving it before returning to work," she said.

The press conference was attended by cousin Manjeeth Shetty and Lions club coordinator Mallika Ashok Shetty.