The first Femina Miss India Meher Castelino is no more. She died at the age of 81 on December 16, 2025. Her death is mourned by many in her fraternity and by her fans. The Femina Miss India wrote, "A true trailblazer, Meher Castelino opened doors, set standards and laid the foundation for generations of women to dream fearlessly. A pioneer in the truest sense, her legacy lives on through the journeys she made possible and the dreams she helped shape."
Castelino was crowned first Femina Miss India in 1964 and this is how her journey began in the world of fashion. She later went on to do many live fashion shows that were conceived and directed by her. A fashion journalist, she was also the fashion editor of Gentleman's Fashion Quarterly, Flair and Eve's Weekly.
Expressing condolence on the model's death, Mumbai Press Club wrote, "Since publishing her first article in Eve’s Weekly in 1973, she devoted her life to writing, becoming a full-time fashion journalist and syndicated columnist. A true pioneer of fashion journalism in India, her work appeared in nearly 160 national and international publications, shaping the country's understanding of fashion over generations."
Castelino was also the fashion writer for Lakme Fashion Week since 2006.
Castelino was born in Mumbai and she graduated from Lawrence School, Lovedale. The famous catwalk model also represented the country at Miss Universe and Miss United Nations Contests.
A well-travelled person, she went across the world to attend haute couture shows where she interviewed eminent designers for the publications she wrote for.
The former model is survived by her son Karl, daughter-in-law Nisha, and her daughter Christina.
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