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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

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PFMI WAS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR US

PFMI finalists Khushboo Vaidya, Manasi Moghe and Lopamudra Raut

...say city's Marathi mulgis and PFMI finalists - Manasi Moghe, Khushboo Vaidya and Lopamudra Raut after returning home to a rousing welcome.

We were the first ones to notice that spark, that chutzpah, that whiff of fresh air - that set them apart from among a bevy of beauties. And armed with confidence, poise, grace and charm, aapli mulgis - Manasi Moghe, Khushboo Vaidya and Lopamudra Raut - held their own in the Ponds Femina Miss India, 2013, and made it to the top 23 list of PFMI finalists.They not only won different subcontests, but also left an indelible imprint on the sands of time. After coming back to the city, they tell how their life has taken a 360 degree turn.

For me, life has taken a 360 degree turn! (Khushboo Vaidya, PFMI finalist)

Like most of the girls who take part in the PFMI pageant, my dream too was to become a Miss India. Born in a small city like Nagpur, participating in this contest felt like a distant dream. I got to know via Nagpur Times about the auditions and was happy that I can finally try to fulfill my dream.

Though I had won many local beauty contests, I was super nervous on the day of the auditions. I still remember the moment when I was eagerly waiting for my turn to come and was constantly telling myself that I can do it. And when I got selected I felt I was daydreaming! I soon realised that I was a step closer to my dream. I fared well in the next level - the Pune auditions - and finally, I was amongst the 23 finalists and all set to compete in the city of dreams - Mumbai. My parents have been a constant support throughout my journey. I was backed by my principal of my college (Hislop) Dr Dipti Christian, who allowed me to keep one year of my graduation on hold. The intensive training and grooming sessions prior to the finale helped boost immense confidence in me and helped me polish my personality.

Though I couldn't win the prestigious title, I would like to believe that God has planned something better for me. Life has taken a 360 degree turn after this wonderful stint. The approach of people towards me has changed rather positively and now more people know me. I'll be lying if I say I'm not enjoying this attention, but luckily I have my friends and family by my side and it's their unconditional love that keeps me grounded. As far as I am concerned, I'm enjoying every bit of this transformation.

I shall complete my B.Sc as I feel education never goes waste and a basic degree is of utmost importance. I shall enroll for second year this June and later, I would like to go ahead in modelling too. I'm getting various film offers, but I'm taking my own sweet time to choose them. I'm very young and at this juncture I don't wanna pounce on a project in a hurry and then later repent.

(As told to Preeti Atulkar)

People come to me for autographs now! Lopamudra Raut, PFMI finalist

It was the summer of February 2012 and I was studying for my upcoming exams. At that time I had never really thought about participating in the PFMI pageant ever. Then one day a friend of mine came to me and said, 'You know the girl who won this year is just 20!' The statement resonated in my mind and I thought, 'If a girl younger to me can actually win it, I should at least participate!' That was the time my beauty queen dream took shape.

In September, when the auditions were happening in Nagpur, I skipped an exam to take part. And it proved to be a right decision as I was amongst the six girls who were selected from the city. But, the next round was in Pune and the date clashed with my exams. So, I chose Goa to audition in the next round. I was crowned the first runner up there and won three titles there. Thereafter, I participated in the final auditions held in Mumbai and I was selected as one of the top 23 finalists.

The world, in which I was for a brief period, was the one I never saw before. Studies were replaced by grooming and training sessions and lecturers by the top fashion experts of the country. We were also on a strict diet regime. Being a Saoji and a fast food lover, it was a little difficult for me to eat boiled food everyday, but I managed knowing that it was in my interest. I made friends with the other beautiful participants. Never in my dreams had I thought that I would get to meet Bollywood biggies like Madhur Bhandarkar, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra and Neil Nitin Mukesh. It was an out of the world feeling when Vidyut Jamwal asked me for a dance. Everything was like a pleasant dream. Even though I couldn't win the contest, I won Yamaha Ray Femina Miss Adventurous, Enhanced Femina Miss Body Beautiful and Mochi Femina Miss Awesome Legs. The moment I came back to Nagpur, I realised how drastically my life had changed. I feel like a celebrity now as people come to me for autographs and to get clicked with me! My college notice board boasts of an announcement that I've made Raisonians proud. I plan to finish my BE degree as soon as possible and want to become a model. I've always had Bollywood dreams and I think this pageant has taken me a step closer to that dream. It has enhanced my personality and has boosted my confidence. My personality may have changed, but I think to the closest of my friends, I'll always be the Lopamudra as I always was!

(As told to Amar Ashok Jajoo)

A childhood dream come true
............says Manasi as she recounts her Miss India journey

Being a small town girl, even thinking of becoming a PFMI finalist seemed like an impossible dream, but life's about turning the impossible into possible. So, though I continued my education and started working towards my engineering degree, somewhere in the recesses of my mind, my dream of wearing a gown and donning a shining tiara refused to die down.

So, when I got to know from Nagpur Times that the auditions of PFMI were going to happen in Nagpur, I couldn't believe my luck. My dream had come to my doorstep! Believe it or not, I found myself on wobbly ground. But, I steeled myself for the auditions and went to give the auditions just to try my luck. I guess fortune favours the brave and I got selected and off I went to Pune, where I was among the top five contestants, but didn't win.

Happy that I had given my dream a shot, I came back to Nagpur. And just when I thought my dream was over, I got a call for the Ponds Pink Tiara contest. Unlike in Nagpur, where I took things a bit casually, I knew that I've got a second shot at my dream and from this point onwards I didn't want any looking back! I went with confidence and I won and became the wild card entrant in the pageant. I couldn't believe I was among the 7000 girls who got a wild card entry there and could now be part of the mega audition in Mumbai, which I won.

Then my journey in the Ponds Femina Miss India began and in my entire life I will never forget those 40 days, which have left an indelible print in my mind. It was a different world where we were taking training to become the most graceful and beautiful women in India and this contest was giving us a platform to showcase our talent and creativity. I performed on a lavni in the sub-contest, after which I got a chance to showcase my dancing skill on a Bollywood number with other girls. Not just the finale, the entire journey is one that I will cherish with great fondness. I also did win the Femina Miss Active sub-contest title.

WHY MISS INDIAS FROM DEFENCE BACKGROUND SHINE BRIGHT?

With Navneet Kaur Dhillon recently crowned Ponds Femina Miss India 2013, the list of women from defence background winning this pageant, gets longer. What gives them the edge over others?

Someone once said, 'uneasy lies the head that wears the crown', but looking at the winners of the Ponds Femina Miss India (PFMI) 2013, one would be forced to cast the idiom aside for good. Twenty-year-old Navneet Kaur Dhillon, from Patiala, raised in army barracks around the country, displayed grace, wit, confidence and poise all at the same time as she was crowned the winner. Sobhita Dhulipala from Visakhapatnam, adjudged the first runner-up, too comes from a defence background. Navy to be precise. With the two of them clinching the top two positions on the coveted podium of PFMI (which incidentally, celebrates its golden jubilee this year), the list of young women from defence background winning this crown in the last two decades, gets longer. From Sushmita Sen in 1994 to Dhillon this year, there has been at least one; at times, two; or as in 2011, all three winners, who have come from army, navy or air force families.

What really makes these defence women such inborn winners?

Says Alesia Raut, model and fashion choreographer, "The girls from defence background have stronger personalities, and are also very disciplined and punctual. Being a model is all about walking into a room, where everyone will take note of you — how you walk, how you sit, how you talk etc. Because of their backgrounds, these girls are taught grace and poise from an early age. It comes naturally to them." Dhillon explains why she attributes her success to an army upbringing, "I was born in Ambala, grew up in Siliguri, Coimbatore, Ferozpur, Allahabad, Bhatinda, Manipur, Imphal and Patiala. I've grown up in small towns as well as big cities. I can ride the roughness of a small village, and survive the madness and high of a metro at the same time. In short, I'm adaptive, open-minded, a survivor and thus, a winner."

Hasleen Kaur, Miss India Earth (2011) says, "We develop great conversational skills and carry ourselves with oomph and confidence. We interact with a lot of people who belong to different age groups and different cultures. I would never hesitate to speak to a stranger or a new person. Ultimately, our communication skills help us become winners." Adds Ankita Shorey, Miss India International (2011), "Making new friends, going to new schools makes us ooze confidence. I remember how we would swim, play tennis every evening, at the army compound. People mingle with one another at the various sports activities, beauty contests and balls. A defence hub has a particular culture, which becomes an integral part of our personality. We pick up good etiquette and manners like, how to use a fork and knife, how to eat with grace, and walk with dignity. These aren't qualities one can learn over a month-long crash course. It's the army upbringing of 22 years that helped me stand out and win."

Dhulipala adds, "The defence background gives people a multi-dimensional personality. My dad was in the navy. I've travelled to almost 50 countries! I have imbibed bits of so many cultures. I've harnessed a great sense of adventure and fun and can relate to continuous changes, which have added to my personal growth from an early age."

The maturity and wit at a young age, as displayed by the defence kids have often propelled them ahead of their civilian counterparts. Add to that the fact that defence areas come with their own sports complexes and clubs which hold various contests that help these girls to stay fit, be competitive and acquire social grace and poise. Fashion historian and designer Ritu Kumar, one of the judges of PFMI 2013, says, "These girls are already well-groomed from a young age. Their confidence, well-maintained figure and smartness build from the fact that they engage in a lot of outdoor activities and receive multi-faceted education. Discipline, sportsmanship and high-quality education trains them to be confident to stand up and answer questions without hesitation or shyness, in comparison to others."

Nikita Anand Dutta, who was crowned Miss India in 2003, says, "Girls from an army background are tougher, calmer, and in control of their emotions. We know how to deal with stress. Our parents get posted in remote areas of India, where we naturally get trained to be tough survivors, adapt to new situations and people. The grooming and etiquette also come naturally, as we watch our mothers wear their clothes with grace, fathers adopt immaculate manners.

"Also, in the defence, the May Queen and Navy Queen contests are big. Most girls go through the grind before entering the Miss India contest," adds Dutta, whose father was a doctor with the Indian Army. Sen, who won in 1994, has often talked about her father, retired Wing Commander Subeer Sen, being instrumental in developing her oratory skills. She imbibed confidence in the defence environment, which helped her become Miss India and Miss Universe 1994, and eventually, take the bold decision to adopt two girls and become a single parent. Lara Dutta, who won the Miss India and Miss Universe crowns in 2000, comes from an air force background; and Priyanka Chopra, who was the first runner-up the same year — and went on to win the Miss World crown — comes from a family of army doctors.

Parents from defence background have a more liberated set of values than most civilians. That too adds to the inherent confidence and self-belief that these women display. No wonder they wear their crowns with such ease.

List of Miss Indias from defence background

Priyanka Chopra - Army

Lara Dutta - Air Force

Celina Jaitly- Army

Neha Dhupia - Navy

Sushmita Sen - Air Force

Pooja Batra- Army

Gul Panag - Army

Manpreet Brar - Army

Nikita Anand - Army

Ankita Shorey - Army

Kanishtha Dhankar - Navy

Hasleen Kaur - Army

Navneet Kaur Dhillon - Army

Sobhita Dhulipala - Navy

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