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19th Manappuram MBA Award Conferred Upon Dr. Vijay Sankeshwar,Chairman and Managing Director of VRL Group

The prestigious 19th edition of the Manappuram Unique Times Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award was presented to Dr. Vijay Sankeshwar, Chairman and Managing Director of VRL Group, on 17th July during a grand ceremony held at Gokulam Park Convention Centre, Kochi.

The award was handed over by Gokulam Gopalan, Chairman & MD, Sree Gokulam Group of Companies, in the presence of Dr. Ajit Ravi, Founder of Pegasus Global Pvt Ltd, and the MBA Award and the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF).

As part of its Pan-India expansion, this year marks a significant milestone for the MBA Award, with Dr. Vijay Sankeshwar becoming the first recipient from Karnataka to be honored with this coveted recognition. A stalwart in India’s transport and logistics industry, Dr. Vijay Sankeshwar built VRL Group from the ground up, transforming it into one of India’s largest and most trusted logistics networks.

With this remarkable achievement, Dr. Vijay Sankeshwar joins the elite ranks of the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF) — one of the world’s most prestigious business clubs. FICF membership is exclusive to business leaders who possess a minimum of ₹1,000 crore in assets and demonstrate a strong commitment to social responsibility. The forum represents excellence in business accomplishments and encourages its members to channel their innovative ideas and leadership to promote societal progress. FICF aims to be a platform where entrepreneurial success meets impactful social contributions.

The MBA Award, instituted to recognize exceptional business leaders with significant social involvement, has previously been bestowed upon a number of iconic entrepreneurs, including Shri V.P. Nandakumar, Shri Joy Alukkas, Shri M.A. Yusuff Ali, Shri T.S. Kalyanaraman, Shri P.N.C. Menon, Shri Gokulam Gopalan, Dr. Ravi Pillai, Shri M.P. Ramachandran, Shri Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Shri Sabu M. Jacob, Dr. Viju Jacob, Dr. A.V. Anoop, Dr. Varghese Kurian, Adv. P. Krishnadas, Dr. Hafeez Rahman, Shri Soundararajan Bangarusamy, Shri V R Muthu, Shri V C Praveen, Dr. Arun N Palaniswami, Shri C K Kumaravel, Shri T.K. Chandiran, and Sir Sohan Roy SK.

The MBA Award stands as a distinguished symbol of recognition, celebrating visionary entrepreneurs who drive transformative change in both business and society.

Bellefontaine Marie from France Crowned SAJ DQUE Teen Glam World 2025

Bellefontaine Marie from France has been crowned SAJ DQUE Teen Glam World 2025, with Kao Peichieh from Taiwan as the first runner-up and Prinsu Gurung from Nepal as the second runner-up. The highly anticipated pageant, featuring talented contestants aged 13 to 18 from across the globe, culminated on 17th July at the Gokulam Park Convention Centre, Kochi. Organized by Pegasus Global Pvt Ltd under the visionary leadership of Dr. Ajit Ravi, the event set new standards in celebrating youth, talent, and individuality.Ishani Laiju, the reigning Teen Glam World 2024 titleholder, crowned the Teen Glam World 2025 winner. The first runner-up was crowned by Preethi Parakkat of Parakkat Jewels, while the second runner-up was crowned by Gokulam Gopalan of the Gokulam Group and Pegasus MD Jebitha Ajit, in the presence of Dr. Ajit Ravi, Founder & Chairman of Pegasus.

The judging panel for Teen Glam World 2025 included Dr G D Singh (Founder & Managing Director, Unified Brainz Group Holdings Inc.), Debasmita (Pageant Winner & Model), Marcia Leonar Brito Machado Marques (Model & Mentor), Dr. Fong Toh Jeng (CEO and Founder, UR klinik), and TangLe Hsu (Mrs Glam World Asia 2024) all of whom brought their expertise to evaluate the contestants. Preethi Parakkat of Parakkat Jewels crafted the exquisite gold crown presented to the winners of Teen Glam World. Breaking away from traditional pageantry norms, Pegasus prioritizes talent and personality over conventional practices, focusing on empowering young individuals and fostering confidence.

Continental Titles

Teen Glam World Asia – India (Aditya Nair)

Teen Glam World Africa – South Africa (Candy Sithole)

Teen Glam World Europe – Ireland (Niranjana Jithesh)

Teen Glam World Oceania – Australia (Aradhana Thomas)

Subtitle Winner

Teen Glam World Fashionista – South Africa (Candy Sithole)

Teen Glam World National Costume – Ireland (Niranjana Jithesh)

Teen Glam World Talent – Taiwan (Kao Peichieh)

Teen Glam World Congeniality – Nepal (Prinsu Gurung)

Teen Glam World Ramp Walk – UAE (Shrika Satheesan)

SAJ Group Hotels and Resorts and DQUE is the main partners of Teen Glam World 2025 organized by Pegasus Global Pvt Ltd. Manappuram Finance Ltd, Alcazar Watches, Unique Times, VIBE Munnar, Parakkat Resorts, Green Media and DQUE TShirts are powered by Partners.

Co-partners are Kalpana International, Aiswaria Advertisements, FICF, DQUE Soap, VeeKayVees Caterers, Times New, UT World, Europe Times, Unique Times, VPS Lakeshore, Akshay Inco, Padikkal Travels, Snapshoot, JD Institute of Fashion Technology and WRV Gold & Diamonds.

Aradhana Thomas (Australia), Bellefontaine Marie (France), Aditya Nair (India), Niranjana Jithesh (Ireland), Noa Nardea (Israel), Prinsu Gurung (Nepal), Candy Sithole (South Africa), Kao Peichieh (Taiwan) and Shrika Satheesan (UAE) were contestants.

The event showcased Pegasus’ unparalleled commitment to innovation and quality, with its mission to promote cultural diversity and tourism while creating an empowering platform for young talent. Teen Glam World 2025 left a lasting impression with its grandeur, purpose, and celebration of youthful excellence.

Alina Farkhutdinova from Russia Clinches SAJ DQUE Miss Glam World 2025 Crown

Alina Farkhutdinova from Russia is the winner of SAJ DQUE Miss Glam World 2025! The first runner-up title goes to Michal Hana Iofedov from Israel, followed by Karla Pejic from Serbia as the second runner-up, and Shwetha Jayaram from India as the third runner-up.

The grand finale of Miss Glam World 2025 was held on July 17th at the Gokulam Park Convention Centre, Kochi. The event was flawlessly executed by Pegasus Global Pvt Ltd, a name synonymous with excellence in event production. With their hallmark precision and creativity, Pegasus once again proved why they’re considered leaders in the industry—delivering a spectacular experience that captivated every guest and participant alike.

The 2025 winner was crowned by the 2024 title holder, Man-Jung Kao. Mini Sajan, CEO of SAJ Group of Hotels, Annie Reji, Director of SAJ Group of Hotels, and Dr Ajit Ravi, Founder of Pegasus Global Pvt. Ltd., crowned the first runner-up, second runner-up, and third runner-up. Out of the numerous contestants who applied for the Miss Glam World pageant, 19 were selected as finalists.

Dr G D Singh (Founder & Managing Director, Unified Brainz Group Holdings Inc.), Debasmita (Pageant Winner & Model), Marcia Leonar Brito Machado Marques (Model & Mentor), Dr. Fong Toh Jeng (CEO and Founder, UR klinik), and TangLe Hsu (Mrs Glam World Asia 2024) were on the judging panel. The winners of the subtitles were selected by a panel of eminent persons. Preethi Parakkat of Parakkat Jewels crafted the exquisite gold crown presented to the winners of Miss Glam World.

Continental Titles

Miss Glam World Asia – Meru Saito (Japan)

Miss Glam World Africa – Melissa Ayanda Moyani (South Africa)

Miss Glam World Europe – Kateryna Voitovych (Ukraine)

Miss Glam World South America – Artieres Lydia (French Guiana)

Miss Glam World North America – Ingrid Michelle De La Rosa Galaviz (Mexico)

Sub Title Winners

Miss Glam World National Costume – Esther Udoka Nmor (Nigeria)

Miss Glam World Fashionista – Odonchimeg Davaanyambuu (Mongolia)

Miss Glam World Talent – Aakriti C K (Nepal)

Miss Glam World Congeniality – Shwetha Jayaram (India)

Miss Glam World Diligent – Miss Pattarawadee Palakul (Thailand)

Miss Glam World Inspiring – Nikola Botosova (Czech Republic)

Miss Glam World Vivacious – Melissa Ayanda Moyani (South Africa)

Miss Glam World Shining Star – Artieres Lydia (French Guiana)

Miss Glam World Ramp Walk – Alina Farkhutdinova (Russia)

Miss Glam World Tenacious – Michal Hana Iofedov (Israel)

SAJ Group Hotels and Resorts and DQUE are the main partners of Miss Glam World 2025, organized by Pegasus Global Pvt Ltd. Manappuram Finance Ltd, Alcazar Watches, Unique Times, VIBE Munnar, Parakkat Resorts, Green Media, and DQUE T-shirts are powered by Partners.

Co-partners are Kalpana International, Aiswaria Advertisements, FICF, DQUE Soap, VeeKayVees Caterers, Times New, UT World, Europe Times, Unique Times, VPS Lakeshore, Akshay Inco, Padikkal Travels, Snapshoot, JD Institute of Fashion Technology, and WRV Gold & Diamonds.

The primary goal of this competition is to celebrate and showcase the rich and diverse cultural heritage of each participating country, while also boosting tourism and global connections. Their pageants focus on talent, intelligence, and personality, ensuring that true substance shines on stage.

Abinamba Jeanne D’Arc (Cameroon), Nikola Botosova (Czech Republic), Peltier Coline (France), Artieres Lydia (French Guiana), Edwina Duho (Ghana), Shwetha Jayaram (India), Michal Hana Iofedov (Israel), Meru Saito (Japan), Ingrid Michelle De La Rosa Galaviz (Mexico), Odonchimeg Davaanyambuu (Mongolia), Aakriti C K (Nepal), Esther Udoka Nmor (Nigeria), Irina Nicoleta Tudorache (Romania), Alina Farkhutdinova (Russia), Karla Pejic (Serbia), Melissa Ayanda Moyani (South Africa), Li Ying Ying (Taiwan), Miss Pattarawadee Palakul (Thailand) and Kateryna Voitovych (Ukraine) were the contestants.

18th Manappuram MBA Award Conferred Upon Aries Group Founder & CEO Sir Sohan Roy SK

Sir Sohan Roy SK, Founder Chairman and CEO of Aries Group, was conferred the 18th Manappuram Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award at a grand ceremony held on May 26th, 2025, at Le Meridien, Kochi. The award was presented by Shri V. P. Nandakumar (MD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd.), the first-ever recipient of the MBA Award, in the presence of Dr. Ajit Ravi, Founder of the MBA Award and the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF).

The MBA Award celebrates individuals with assets surpassing ₹1000 crore, recognizing exemplary business leaders for their outstanding financial achievements and their impactful contributions to social welfare. This year’s ceremony, led by Pegasus Chairman and MBA Award–FICF Founder Dr. Ajit Ravi, continued the tradition of honoring trailblazers who have significantly advanced entrepreneurial excellence. Envisioned by Dr Ajit Ravi, the award reflects his vision for a pan-India expansion and a global perspective on business leadership.

As part of the honor, Sir Sohan Roy was also inducted into the prestigious Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF), a global network of multibillionaire achievers committed to leveraging entrepreneurship for societal progress. Like all other elite clubs, it stands out as the world’s first such forum that does not charge any membership fee—an unprecedented model that reinforces its ethos of merit-based recognition.

Sir Sohan Roy leads Aries Group, the world’s largest ship design consultancy, operating in 30 countries with over 3,000 professionals. A relentless innovator and sustainability champion, he has transformed 4,000+ vessels into “Green Ships” and developed EFFISM, a cutting-edge performance optimization system—cementing Aries as a global leader in maritime engineering and eco-friendly practices.

Past recipients of the MBA Award include a distinguished roster of business icons such as Shri V. P. Nandakumar, Shri Joy Alukkas, Shri M. A. Yusuf Ali, Shri T. S. Kalyanaraman, Shri P. N. C. Menon, Shri Gokulam Gopalan, Dr. Ravi Pillai, Shri M. P. Ramachandran, Shri Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Shri Sabu M. Jacob, Shri Viju Jacob, Dr. A. V. Anoop, Dr. Varghese Kurian, Adv. Dr. P. Krishnadas, Dr. Hafeez Rahman, Shri Soundararajan Bangarusamy, Shri V R Muthu, Shri V C Praveen, Dr. Arun N Palaniswami, Shri C K Kumaravel and Shri T K Chandiran.

Sir Sohan Roy’s induction into this esteemed circle further reaffirms his standing as a visionary leader whose entrepreneurial journey continues to inspire transformative change across industries.

Shwetha Jayaram from Kerala Crowned Alcazar Watches & DQUE Miss Queen of India 2025

In a dazzling celebration of beauty, confidence, and culture, Shwetha Jayaram from Kerala was crowned 14th Alcazar Watches & DQUE Miss Queen of India 2025 at a spectacular event held on May 26th at Le Meridien, Kochi. The prestigious title was closely followed by Livya Liffy from Kerala as the first runner-up and Kavya Bali from Jammu & Kashmir as the second runner-up.

The title winner was crowned by Pegasus Chairman Dr. Ajit Ravi and Jebitha Ajit, Managing Director of Pegasus Global Pvt. Ltd. The first runner-up was crowned by Sajan Varghese, Chairman & MD of SAJ Hotels and Resorts, and Dr. Jolly Antony, Chairman of Vibe Munnar and Managing Director of Fog Resort & Spa. Dr. G. N. Ramesh, Rotary Governor, and Major Ravi crowned the second runner-up.

14 contestants were selected from around the nation for the Miss Queen of India competition. The contestants also had a grooming session led by experts. The pageant organisers, Pegasus event Production Company is the only company in the nation which exempted the bikini round for the competition. The company has made a unique position for itself in the fashion industry. Miss Queen of India is a pathway to countable international pageants including Miss Asia, Miss Asia Global and Miss Glam World.

Regional Title Winners
Miss Queen North – Ritu Roat (Rajasthan)
Miss Queen West – Rupvardhini Kumar Saste (Maharashtra)
Miss Queen East – Bhupali Modak (West Bengal)
Miss Queen South – Sanjana Akasam (Telangana)

Subtitle Winners
Miss Talent – Rupvardhini Kumar Saste (Maharashtra)
Miss Solidarity – Mayuri Mishra (Maharashtra)
Miss Fashionista – Ritu Roat (Rajasthan)
Miss Congeniality – Deepika Krishnamurthy (Karnataka)
Miss Ramp Walk – Livya Liffy (Kerala)
Miss Humaneness – Shwetha Jayaram (Kerala)
Miss Inspiring – Karishma Avinash Kadam (Maharashtra)
Miss Vivacious – Shwetha Jayaram (Kerala)

The distinguished judging panel included Hari Anand (Fashion Designer), Harmeet Singh Gupta (Managing Director, U&I Entertainment), Magen Fernandes (Mrs India Global 2021 & Model), and Abhijeet Adurkar (GM, The Resort Mumbai). Winners were adorned with exquisite gold crowns designed by Preeti Prakash of Parakkat Jewels, and subtitle winners were selected by another eminent panel.

The pageant main partner Alcazar Watches and DQUE, with strong support from Manappuram Finance Ltd, Unique Times, Parakkat Resorts, SAJ Group Hotels & Resorts, and Green Media. Co-partners included: Kalpana International Salon & Spa, Aiswaria Advertisements, Europe Times, Times New, UT World, DQUE Soap, DQUE T-shirts, DQUE Watches, Unique Times, Akshay Inco, and JD Institute of Fashion Technology.

The 14 contestants were:
Akshitha Sathyanarayana (Karnataka), Bhupali Modak (West Bengal), Deepika Krishnamurthy (Karnataka), Karishma Avinash Kadam (Maharashtra), Kavya Bali (Jammu & Kashmir), Livya Liffy (Kerala), Mayuri Mishra (Maharashtra), Meenakshi Unnikrishnan (Kerala), Ramyani Roysarkar (West Bengal), Ritu Roat (Rajasthan), Rupvardhini Kumar Saste (Maharashtra), Sanjana Akasam (Telangana), Shhukra Surryavanshi (Maharashtra), and Shwetha Jayaram (Kerala).