MUMBAI: Premier beauty and skin care brand, Neutrogena, has announced its first ever partnership with the country’s most anticipated beauty pageant, Femina Miss India. The contest, to be held in March 2014, will have a special Miss Healthy Skin title sponsored by Neutrogena®, the international skin care expert, recommended by dermatologists.

Commenting on the association, Tushar Murdeshwar, Vice President, Consumer Division, Johnson & Johnson India Ltd. said, “Neutrogena® is proud to associate with the India’s biggest beauty event and to be a part of every young Indian girl’s dream. Our range of products is developed for the woman who understands that healthy skin is the first step to beauty and who better to embody that than the future Miss Healthy Skin 2014.”

The Miss India spokesperson added, “We are very excited about this partnership with Neutrogena, one of the leading skin care brands. In its 51st year, the beauty pageant has become synonymous with real beauty that is more than skin deep. This philosophy is a natural fit with Neutrogena, since they recognize the importance of healthy skin that is long lasting.”

Femina Miss India is the country’s oldest and most credible beauty event that brings together the best of beauty, poise, elegance and intelligence from across India. Its winners have instantly become household names and several have succeeded in making it big in Bollywood. The first round of auditions for the 2014 crown will begin on 19th December in Chandigarh. Auditions will be held in 15 cities over the next two months, followed by regional auditions in Kolkata and Bengaluru. The pageant finale will be held in March, in Mumbai.

The final round of contestants will undergo a rigorous training, including skin care guidance by leading dermatologists. Over the next few weeks, millions in India and across the world will gear up to watch India select its next beauty queen, making the Miss India pageant one of the most anticipated and closely followed events.