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by Natasha Dsouza | January 10, 2020, 11:00 AM IST
The Unforgettable Divas
They say success comes in pairs. Two girls from different backgrounds and histories were brought together by a winning destiny that changed their lives forever. The winners of Miss Diva 2019 talk to us about their journeys, dreams, and the social cause that’s closest to their hearts.
"Identify Your Purpose," Says Miss Diva Universe 2019, Vartika Singh
Miss Diva Universe 2019, Vartika Singh, reveals how she prepared for the pageant and shares the biggest lesson she’s learnt from it.
Miss Diva
Her confident smile lights up a room, and her poised personality is striking, but not intimidating. Vartika Singh started her journey by participating in Femina Miss India 2015 where she won the title of Miss Grand India 2015. She then represented India at Miss Grand International and bagged the third position. Singh continued her great run by winning the coveted crown of Miss Diva Universe 2019 and recently represented the nation at Miss Universe 2019 alongside 104 other contestants. The beauty, who hails from the City of Nawabs, Lucknow, drops her guard and lets us into her world.
What qualities make for a good Miss Diva?
Confidence, self-belief, leadership skills, and the ability to make a difference in society are a few important qualities.
What is the biggest lesson that the pageant taught you?
Focus on your goals and work hard. Don’t overthink about the outcome. Today, when I reflect on my life, I can say hard work pays.
Miss Diva
How can this pageant help you make a difference?
These pageants provide young women with a platform that not only helps them excel in their career but also gives them a voice. The process refines you, and there’s so much to learn from other girls’ experiences. Even though each contestant comes from a different background, we all work in accord towards the same cause.
Which social cause is close to your heart?
I’ve been a public health student and worked with the World Bank on a government project where I got the opportunity to visit rural hospitals. These are more like community health centres, and seeing their condition shook me to my core. After I became Miss India, I established an NGO called Pure Humans, that works towards offering healthcare and building awareness around existing public health policies.
My team and I proactively reach out to the economically disadvantaged communities of Uttar Pradesh and educate people on sanitation, healthcare, and maternal and childcare. We also set up health camps and conduct blood donation drives as a way to connect fruitfully with the local communities. Affordable healthcare is a basic necessity; everybody should have access to it.
What’s your message to girls who dream of entering the Miss Diva pageant?
Get to know yourself and identify your purpose. Once you discover who you are, be honest with yourself. There will always be someone prettier than you, and more confident than you. You can’t be the best at everything. Whatever you decide to do, just give it your best shot.
Miss Diva
Take us through your beauty routine.
I’m a simple girl. I know it sounds preachy, but after Miss India, I started working as a model, and that’s when I learned that if you want to look beautiful, you have to feel beautiful. Especially while facing the camera, you have to be on top of your game. I never sleep with makeup on, drink lots of water, and swear by night creams. When you’re sleeping, your body repairs itself. It’s the best time to take care of your skin and hair. Whenever possible, I try and oil my hair.
Who has been your favourite pageant winner and why?
Lara Dutta Bhupathi. The way she conducts herself is admirable.
Give us one beauty hack you swear by.
I have dry skin, so I love using yoghurt face packs and hair masks.
"Never Give Up On Your Dreams," Says Miss Diva Supranational 2019, Shefali Sood
Miss Diva
Miss Diva Supranational 2019, Shefali Sood, opens up about her first reaction post winning the title, the evolution of beauty pageants, and whether the Indian mindset is changing
Shefali Sood has a carefree spirit. The Noida girl has worked hard to win the Miss Diva Supranational 2019 title while ensuring that she doesn’t lose her individuality in the process. An advocate of mental health, she wishes to create a safe space of expression for everyone.
What was your first reaction post winning the title?
I felt gratitude and peace. I worked hard, and it took me three years to get this crown. I missed my parents, as they weren’t there when I won, but my friends came out to celebrate with me.
If you were given a chance to swap lives with someone, who would it be and why?
I feel grateful to be given the life that I have, and I wouldn’t want to swap it with anyone. Moreover, I’m confident about the life that I’ve created for myself. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s shaped me into who I am today.
What did this pageant mean to you?
The pageant was a means to connect with people and help them. It is a platform to encourage people and tell them to never give up on their dreams. As technology progresses, the world moves ahead but somewhere down the line, we are forgetting the basics of humanity. People need to be reminded of empathy and compassion.
How do you think beauty pageants have evolved?
India has been a patriarchal country for many years, but now people have begun to see how pageants celebrate women, instead of objectifying them. Pageant winners can venture into any field that they want. For me, this crown has never been about glory, fame, money, or power. It’s about following my dreams and having the ability to influence people. This crown comes with responsibility.
Miss Diva
Women have managed to break into every field and leave an indelible mark. However, do you think the Indian mindset is truly changing?
Definitely, the mindset is changing, but it’s slow. I think, on one hand, there are households like mine, where women are encouraged to pursue their dreams and become independent, but at the same time, there are families where women are still oppressed, and they’re expected to fit into the stereotypical role of staying at home. There is still a lot desired in terms of change.
What does women empowerment mean to you?
I have a problem with the term women empowerment because that means we aren’t empowered. We need to be reminded that just by virtue of being a woman, we are everything that we need to be. Women need to be reassured that they’re enough, just the way they are.
What are your interests apart from modelling?
I’m a voracious reader. I discovered my love for self-help literature a couple of years ago. I write prose and poetry. I’m in the process of writing my book and hopefully, I should be publishing it soon. I’m also a mental health advocate. It’s something that I’m extremely passionate about. I love cooking, I’m not very good at it, but I keep trying my hand at it. And, I love dancing.
Your father was in the mercantile marine department and you’ve travelled to over 20 countries. How has travelling shaped your personality?
Apart from the fact that I became very adaptable, it inculcated in me a deep sense of empathy towards people from different backgrounds. I became curious about people, and how they thought and functioned. Travelling has incorporated a deep sense of understanding and acceptance of all kinds of situations.
Photographs: Sushant Chabria
Stylist and designer: Rocky Star
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