Meher Castelino, First Femina Miss India, Passes Away at 81

Meher Castelino, 81, India’s first Femina Miss India and a noted fashion journalist, has passed away. No cause has been announced. The pageant and fashion communities expressed immediate sorrow following the news.

• Fast Facts
• Name: Meher Castelino
• Age: 81
• Title: Femina Miss India 1964 (first winner)
• Profession: Fashion journalist and industry pioneer
• Reported: Updated December 18, 2025; cause not disclosed

The Legacy

Meher Castelino’s win as the very first Femina Miss India in 1964 was a watershed moment for Indian pageantry. Over the decades she built a respected career as a fashion journalist and public voice for women’s visibility in style and media. Her top achievements include:

1. Winning Femina Miss India (1964) — established a modern platform for Indian beauty and ambition.
2. Longstanding career in fashion journalism — helped shape coverage of Indian style and designers.
3. Trailblazer for women in public life — inspired generations of contestants, models and journalists to pursue careers in fashion and media.

Social Proof: Reactions and Tributes

The Femina Miss India organisation led the public tributes, posting on Instagram that Castelino was a “true trailblazer” who “opened doors, set standards and laid the foundation for generations of women to dream fearlessly.” Their message paid tribute to her “grace, dignity and quiet strength” and offered condolences to her family.

Industry peers, former contestants and members of the fashion community posted condolences across social channels, describing Castelino as a pioneer whose influence endures in today’s pageants and fashion pages.

Context: Common Health Issues Women Face in Their 80s

While no cause has been announced in Castelino’s case, many women in their 80s commonly face chronic conditions that affect quality of life. Key issues include:

• Osteoporosis and fractures — increased risk of hip, spine and wrist breaks.
• Arthritis and joint pain — stiffness and reduced mobility that limit daily activity.
• Heart disease and hypertension — higher risk of heart failure and arrhythmias.
• Vision and hearing loss — conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration and presbycusis.
• Diabetes and related complications if unmanaged.
• Mental-health challenges — depression, loneliness and cognitive decline tied to isolation and chronic illness.
• Urinary and digestive problems, plus sleep disturbances — common contributors to reduced wellbeing.

Meher Castelino’s passing marks the end of a pioneering chapter in India’s fashion and pageant history. Her role as Femina Miss India 1964 and subsequent work in fashion journalism helped normalize women’s public presence in media and style, a legacy that continues to influence the industry.

Updated December 18, 2025. Statement sourced from the Femina Miss India organisation’s public post. We will update this article if further details are released.