Meher Castelino

Some Lesser Known Facts About Meher Castelino

• Meher Castelino was born and grew up in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• In 1964, after completing her graduation, she participated in the first Femina Miss India pageant and made history by becoming India’s first Femina Miss India.

  

• She was the first Miss India selected by Femina to represent the country at the Miss Universe and Miss United Nations Contests in Miami Beach, Florida (US), and Majorca, Spain, respectively.

  

• In 1973, Meher started her journalism career and wrote her first article in Eve’s weekly magazine.

• She was among the earliest Indian journalists who had taken fashion as a serious industry, writing analytical pieces on craftsmanship, product branding, and consumer trends beyond celebrity glamour.

• Castelino’s work appeared in nearly 130 national and international newspapers and magazines, which made her a prominent voice in fashion commentary and lifestyle reporting.

• Meher was also a famous commercial and catwalk model and had appeared in over 2,000 live fashion shows, many of which were directed by her.

• She has led the design departments for both export and local fashion houses of India and served as the Fashion Editor for various magazines such as Gentlemen’s Fashion Quarterly, Flair, and Eve’s Weekly.

• During her modeling career of over 14 years, she had modeled and traveled around the world.

• Meher was invited to Germany, France, Italy, the USA, South Africa, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Singapore to attend big haute couture shows, to conduct interviews with renowned designers, and to bring global perspectives to the Indian audience.

• Apart from writing columns in various fashion magazines, Meher also authored several books on fashion, including ‘Manstyle’, ‘Fashion Kaleidoscope’, and ‘Fashion Musings’, exploring trends, industry evolution, and style insights.

• From 2006 until her death, Meher Castelino served as the fashion writer of Lakme Fashion Week.

• Castelino served as judge and speaker at various fashion award shows.

  

• Apart from writing and judging the fashion award, she also mentored young models, designers, and fashion writers.

• In 2022, Meher was honored with an industry leadership award for her nearly five decades of contribution to fashion, beauty, and journalism at the Women Directors Conclave.

  

• On 16 December 2025, Meher breathed her last in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Her death was confirmed by the Femina Miss India Organisation. The organisation said,

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.”

• Meher Castelino is survived by her son Karl, daughter-in-law Nisha, and daughter Christina.