Cheers! India brings home the Miss Universe crown, and I couldn’t be more elated.

Remember, ever since we were little girls, our parents got us crowns, made us feel like princesses and queens, and we would walk and sashay around like royalty, exuding the oomph we never knew existed within us ?

Aren’t Beauty Pageants, exactly that, but REAL? Ever since the win of Ms. Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, I’ve noticed so many well-known publications wording their opinions about how these beauty pageants should be shelved. While I do not mean to contradict their opinions, I still have my strong opinions on why these pageants are nothing but dreamy and are needed.

1. THE MINDSET, THE IDEOLOGIES 

If you closely watch the beauty pageants, you’ll realize what beautiful set of mindsets these girls build during their course of training. If you don’t believe it – look at the empowering message Ms. Harnaaz Sandhu delivered when asked about depression.
She quoted – “ The biggest pressure the youth of today is facing is to believe in themselves. Know that you are unique and that’s what makes you beautiful. Stop comparing yourselves with others and let’s talk about more important things that are happening worldwide. I think that’s what you need to understand. Come out and speak for yourself because you are the leader of your life. You are the voice of your own.”

Check out every single winner delivering a word of advice from all the winners and contestants.

2. FOR THE WOMEN, BY THE WOMEN

Miss Universe and other beauty pageants and for the women and by the women. We celebrated Nykaa Fashion for the same reason, didn’t we? These pageants let young girls build and work upon uplifting and crucial dreams. Remember Manushi Chillar. Miss World 2020 working on her BEAUTY WITH PURPOSE Project by the name PROJECT SHAKTI, where she gave so much towards women’s menstrual hygiene. Let’s not forget Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza still working hard on their own Projects even after so many years of their crowning ceremonies.

There are so many crucial projects each of us needs to undertake in one way or the other, in small baby steps or bigger ones. These pageants are platforms, however glamorous, giving a stage for girls and women to work on Important things.

3. THE UNITY

When you see these women of different color, ethnicity, backgrounds, career choices, races, etc . stand together for the world, for their countries – It’s a sight to behold. The first person to hug the crown winner is the woman who lost to her and it’s beautiful to see women standing for the fellow women, rather than portraying jealousy and bringing each other down (let’s not forget the Indian TV serials)

For me, these pageants are a way to get inspired and to look beyond the swimwear and evening gown rounds. I still believe the swimwear rounds are one of the most confidence exuding rounds ever (You cannot disagree ). While the idea of beauty portrayed by these pageants might be a thing of the past, it’s important we give these pageants credits for what they are trying to achieve rather than sticking to an orthodox mindset.

I’d love to add something, which I truly believe in. Life gives us those low moments time and again but ,
Dear Girls, never let that invisible crown fall from your head, never let that chin down, never let that confidence fade away – you were born with it. These beauty pageants are just reminders that there is a Queen within you and nothing can stop you from anything you wish to achieve.