SD: Pageantry is overall grooming for life. I could write a book on what pageantry has given me – how to foster friendships, goal setting, discipline, how to focus on things, delayed gratification and self-care, responsibility, time management and so much more. If I ever have a daughter, I would send her for pageantry at least once in her life. Pageantry is about being the best version of yourself and developing your overall personality. I also found my best friends at Miss Teen Diva.
The support I have received from my parents, my younger brother and all my aunts has been unbelievable. During online voting for Miss Teen Diva, my entire family campaigned. They weren’t just spreading the word on social media, but they started an actual campaign. Even my father’s coursemates who studied with him in the Indian Navy made instagram accounts only to vote for me. I am so grateful for having this kind of support system. Just having this backing makes me feel like I can do it.
Another aspect of pageantry is social work; you are expected to support a social cause. My social cause during Miss Teen Diva was women empowerment. I partnered with GirlUp, an organisation hosted at the United Nations Foundation. So we did a few workshops on how to encourage women in STEM and generally engaged in gender sensitisation.
Source: Barandbench
