Namita Shetty

Namita Shetty, born 8 September 1988, is an Indian model, beauty pageant contestant, and graphic designer for pageant website Missosology.org. Growing up in Mumbai, Namita graduated with a degree in Mass Media and Advertising. She belongs to the Bunt community from Mangalore and won the Miss Bunt 2007 title. In September 2008, Namita won the Miss University Jaipur title, giving her a spot at the national Miss University India 2008 pageant held in Mumbai.
In December 2009, she won the Mangalore audition round of Pantaloons Femina Miss India South 2010, judged by Miss India Universe 2009 Ekta Chowdhry. After clearing the regional rounds, she placed as a finalist in the Pantaloons Femina Miss India South 2010 pageant on 23 December 2009. She was also among the top 60 finalists at the first ever Miss Universe India I am she pageant 2010.

Early life

Namita was the only child born to the Shetty Mangalorean family in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Her father Satish Shetty manages a business in manufacturing corrugated boxes and her mother Sujata Shetty is a banker.

She completed her schooling in 2004 from St. Joseph's Convent High School, Mumbai after which he continued high school at Mithibai College (Commerce). After 12th grade, Namita pursued a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication and Advertising from Mumbai University affiliated SVKM's Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Management and graduated in 2009.

Modeling and pageant career

In 2007, Namita participated in a local community pageant, Miss Bunt organised by the Bunts Youth Wing. She won the title after which she began modeling in college shows. In 2008, after winning the Miss University Jaipur title, she was on the national finale of NIEM's Mr. & Ms. University India 2008 pageant. Following the pageant, Namita started walking the ramp for model co-ordinator and fashion choreographer David Whitbread. Since then has modeled for numerous brands including, TAIN, Van Huesan, Allen Solly, United Colors of Benetton, Sheetals, 109F, Provogue and Ethicus.

After training with pageant coach Ritika Ramtri in 2009, Namita placed as a finalist in the Pantaloons Femina Miss India South 2010 pageant following which she continues to model.

In March 2010, Namita won the I AM She Chosen One Contest in New Delhi. Sushmita Sen judged the event that marked the invitation to girls for participation at the first ever Miss Universe India pageant by Alchemist and Tantra Entertainment. Namita later placed as one of the top 60 finalists at the first edition of the competition.

Controversies

As a participant of a beauty pageant after being a known figure at Missosology's public forum, Namita Shetty was also widely criticized for being inappropriate as a candidate for beauty pageants. Pageant lovers also accused Shetty of maligning the then favorite for Miss India, Nicole Faria. Though Shetty denied such actions, the pageant lovers believe otherwise. Despite the rumors Namita was made Administrator of the forum.

Post Modeling

In October 2010 Namita starting working with a San Francisco based content provider company, Wcities Inc. and was the moderator for their Twitter and Facebook pages called Go Out Mumbai while she continues to be an administrator and graphic designer for Missosology . org.