Manushi Chillar’s win at the Miss Universe pageant comes 17 years after Priyanka Chopra won the crown in 2000. Chhillar made it to the title through a total of 118 contestants in Sanya City Arena, in China but the victory resonated and made many an Indian proud back home. One of them is another beauty pageant winner, Anisha Safaya.
Crowned as Mrs India Universe 2017, Safaya shares her elation over Chhillar's victory.“It was a proud moment, not only because India had waited for 17 long years but also because her hard work bore fruit. I felt big responsibilities apply for Manushi, as I know what it takes to be there and it’s not easy, it requires immense dedication, discipline, determination and most importantly it requires 100 percent of you,” she said in an interview with News18.com.
Safaya adds that no win is an individual’s win, it is always a team effort and behind Chillar’s win, must be the effort of her loved ones. “Yes, it is us who take the first step and are determined to work hard, keep moving forward; but our friends, family, and everyone else who supports us make the journey easier and our dreams a reality.” Holding the post of a Vice President in an investment bank, Safaya points out that there’s, "No set path or professions that beauty queens must follow after winning a crown. Indeed there is a curiosity surrounding pageant winners that what path will they follow and I believe that is an individual's preference. This (beauty pageant win) has also opened up avenues I would want to explore and pursue things which I am passionate about.”
As for the 21-year-old Chillar, who happens to be a medical student, Safaya adds, “Manushi is a combination of beauty with intelligence and she definitely will have decisions to make. I am sure whatever she chooses to do, she will succeed in that. Be it a doctor, social worker, actress, model or anything else.”
She also highlights that the crown not only comes with a responsibility but also a platform to work for causes close to one’s heart. “For me, it started as a dream, a dream to be a beauty queen and now the crown has provided me a platform to continue working on causes such as spreading allergy awareness, empowering women and young people who come from disadvantaged background and others who have becomes disillusioned and have taken a path of violence. Manushi now has a big platform to work for the causes close to her & affect real change in the community. She hopes to open a chain of nonprofit hospitals in rural areas which is a very noble thought and I wish her all the very best for this initiative,” she signs off.
Comments
0 comment