Step aside, because Ayushree Malik is here to light up the world stage like never before! Crowned LIVA Miss Diva Supranational 2025, Ayushree is a rare blend of fierce intellect, athletic prowess, and heartfelt compassion — the kind of queen who doesn’t just walk the runway, but owns it with purpose. A psychology prodigy from Delhi University with a breathtaking 96% in her boards, she’s also a dynamic athlete and a captivating debater, proving that strength wears many faces. But beyond the glitz and glamour lies a story of resilience and hope — inspired by the heartbreaking loss of her father, Ayushree founded Brave Hearts, a transformative initiative turning grief into healing for countless families. As she prepares to represent India among 70 nations at Miss Supranational 2025 in Poland, Ayushree carries a message louder than any crown: that true beauty blossoms when courage, compassion, and commitment come together to create change. This is a queen on a mission — and the world is watching.
Tejal Sinha
tejal.sinha30@gmail.com
Excerpts from the interview
Congratulations on being crowned as Liva Miss Diva Supranational India 2025 — what went through your mind the moment you were crowned?
Ayushree Malik: I think when I was crowned, the moment was really surreal for me. It was so hard to believe that after a journey, which was so full of challenges, I could finally be there on that stage wearing this crown. I remember calling my mom afterwards and telling her that we did this together, because she’s been there in this journey with me.
From Delhi University classrooms to the global runway — what has this transformation meant for you personally and emotionally?
Ayushree Malik: The transformation is actually 360 because I’ve transformed myself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually as well. Coming from my home, I think it was all about getting out of your comfort zone and shell, because I really had to push myself to be here at this stage. I had to learn how to conduct myself, I had to learn how to express myself and moreover, I was really trained by a different set of mentors who have really helped me to reach this point. So this journey is not mine alone. I would say that there’s a whole teamwork that goes into it behind the picture. There’s a whole lot of army that’s working for both of us so that, you know, we look our best.
You are now carrying the responsibility of representing India on the global stage. How does it feel to wear the crown not just as a symbol of beauty, but of purpose and representation?
Ayushree Malik: I feel privileged and blessed to have this responsibility, which not everyone gets. And this responsibility comes from the fact that there is a lot of love that I am receiving because people have that faith in me. This responsibility allows me to be my best version. It motivates me to win this crown not just for myself, but as I mentioned earlier — for my mentors, for my team, for my mother and moreover, for this country.
You’ll soon be competing among contestants from over 70 countries at Miss Supranational 2025. Could you share some details about your preparations, especially for the sub-contests?
Ayushree Malik: I’m really proud because I think that there is no country that could be like India when it comes to our culture. I think we’re so unique in our tradition and in our values, and that really makes us stand out in the first place. My preparation has been intense. And when I say that, I mean that I’ve had my mentors and my entire team helping me — in terms of my nutrition, in terms of my walk, in terms of my diction, in terms of my voice, in terms of the content that I’m putting out there, in terms of training, in terms of hair and makeup — and this is just a list that goes on. There’s a whole organisation working behind both of us. Our national director is putting her best foot forward so that we don’t lack anything in our preparations.
The national costume round is always a visual spectacle. Can you give us a small teaser of what India can expect from your look this year? How will it reflect the culture of India?
Ayushree Malik: Since, we cannot reveal much, I would give you the hint that it’s dynamic. My outfit is something which is deep-rooted in India’s tradition. It’s not something that’s been experimented with. It’s not Western. It’s very cultural, and it’s very effective.
‘Brave Hearts’ is an initiative born from your personal loss. How did your father’s passing inspire you to turn grief into grassroots action?
Ayushree Malik: I understand now that growing up, my father passing away was such an important part of my life that I have lost. But combating that mindset was really important for me — and that’s when my mother came in as a superhero. She told me that courage is not about wearing capes; you have to have conviction in your heart. I learned to focus on my potential rather than my past. And now, if there is any adult out there, if there is a little child who’s going through a mental trauma, I want to create that safe space where mental healing is just as important as physical healing. Because after an accident, you can go to a hospital and recover physically. But what about the grief that is stuck in our heart? Are we talking about it? So this initiative is actually a movement to have that safe space — where all of us come together as a community. And maybe, for someone out there who is in their dark times, we can be a hope of light.
How important is it for beauty queens today to go beyond the stage and champion real, lasting change in their communities?
Ayushree Malik: I think what makes everyone — and beauty queens, as you said — truly special is their sense of purpose, because that’s what makes them a true queen. That’s what makes them beautiful. I think that’s the definition I would go by. It’s about creating that legacy and it all comes with the advocacy and the empowerment that you bring through your actions. My actions, as we talked about with Brave Hearts, are something very close to my heart. I’ve seen what it feels like to be in that dark space. I’ve come up with this foundation and I’m taking action for it. I advocate for it. That’s my legacy. That’s what I’m leaving behind — and that’s the consistent change I hope to create, so that when the next girl sits here wearing this crown, she has someone to look up to, just like I had the previous girls doing the same for me. I think it’s a legacy that has been going on and we should really create a voice around building positive change — something that not only helps your life, but also impacts others.
You are also a psychology student. What role has mental health played in your own journey and how do you advocate for it both personally and through Brave Hearts?
Ayushree Malik: I have a very strong mindset and that comes from the fact that I’m always aware of the emotions that I’m feeling — because I accept everything that comes to me and I work on it. This is a personal phase that I want every girl and every boy to learn: if you know what you want inside your heart, if you know what truly moves you, then that emotional intelligence becomes your strength. Mental health isn’t just about taking care of your mind — it’s also about having the knowledge of your emotions. In fact, the subject of emotional intelligence, which comes under the umbrella of psychology, has really helped me evolve my personality. Through Brave Hearts, it’s not just about people who’ve faced trauma needing education on mental health. It’s about everyone — because each one of us has to be a brave heart to lead this life and follow our hearts. So it’s very important that we stay connected — in our actions, in our minds — and that overall balance is really important.
What legacy do you hope to leave behind as Supranational India?
Ayushree Malik: I feel that at the bottom of everything, we all need to be empowered — empowered enough to make our own choices, empowered enough to be emotionally intelligent, as I said earlier, empowered enough to be brave hearts, and empowered enough to follow our passions. At the same time, we should be empowered enough to inspire others. I think I want to be each one of those, because I am really blessed to have a mother who empowered me to believe in everything I want to do. I’m doing this because I have everybody supporting me. I’m so fortunate, I think I’m really motivated to leave behind a legacy that goes beyond my personal motives — one that impacts people’s lives in the most positive manner possible. At the same time, I’m not just an individual — I’m a role model to many young girls out there. So the way I live my life is actually the legacy I’m leaving behind. Because they look up to me in a certain manner and they’re living their lives by taking the best things they can learn — not just from me, but also from the queens around the world and from the pageant universe.
