Meher Castelino was a fashion model who became the first Miss India. Crowned in the year 1964, this fashion icon was a celebrated fashion journalist too. With a career spanning more than five decades, Meher has been a prominent voice in fashion commentary and lifestyle reporting. Her roles were fashion editor and syndicated columnist too. One among the earliest journalists to treat fashion as an industry rather than celebrity-driven glamour, Meher passed away on 17th December 2025 aged 81.
Meher Castelino hailed from Mumbai
Meher Castelino was born in Mumbai. In 1964, she became the first woman to be the crowned as Miss India, and it was for the first time, she caught media attention. After winning the beauty pageant she represented her country at Miss Universe and Miss United Nations competitions. Meher appeared in more than 2,000 shows all over the world, before she moved to fashion writing, which she did with passion all through her life.
She later started her professional career in the field of fashion journalism
Meher Castelino went on to build an extraordinary legacy in fashion journalism; one of the early names in Indian fashion industry. She began her journalism career in 1973, and her first article was published in Eve’s Weekly. From there she built a career on fashion journalism and published numerous fashion articles in her credit.
Over the time, her articles appeared in 130 national and international newspapers and magazines. Meher has been invited to many countries including US, Italy, France and Germany to attend haute couture shows, interview renowned designers, and bring global perspectives to Indian audiences.
She authored several books on fashion
Apart from writing posts on journals and magazines, Meher Castelino published a few books on fashion too. ‘Manstyle’, ‘Fashion Kaleidoscope’, and ‘Fashion Musings’ are among those. Her journalism spanned fashion, beauty, lifestyle, travel and the business of fashion, and she also served as the official fashion writer for major Indian fashion events. She has been the official fashion writer for Lakmé Fashion Week since 2006.
A pioneer in the fashion industry, who laid the foundation for generations of women to dream fearlessly and became a true inspiration to millions of people to aspire to a career in the field of fashion and modelling, Meher Castelino passed away on 17th December 2025 aged 81. She is survived by her son, Karl, daughter-in-law, Nisha, and her daughter, Christina.
Also read: Rochelle Rao – Femina Miss India International 2012
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