With beauty, brains and a fierce spirit, Shemonyl Wankhadia is the ultimate pageant powerhouse. As she prepares to represent India on the world stage, she opens up about her experiences, motivations and mission to redefine beauty standards
SHIKHA DUGGAL
Shemonyl Wankhadia, a youthful, vivacious and multidimensional individual from the big city of dreams, is an avid fan of beauty pageants and was just named Miss India International in Bangkok. Wankhadia opens up to us in an exclusive chat about her sincere dream and other things! “Winning the prestigious title of Miss Global International seems like a dream come true. I’ve been working hard on it since last year and I’m really appreciative that it worked out better than I had anticipated. My dreams and confidence have grown even more as a result of this international victory, which has profoundly changed my outlook and given me a sense of empowerment. I benefited much from the emotional support I got from my friends and family, as well as from interacting with other pageant contestants. I feel proud of myself for serving my nation and all the training I’ve had has helped me realise a lot about myself,” she informs me.
Shemonyl is putting in a lot of work in preparation for her sincere goal of representing India on the international Miss Universe stage. To name a few of her pageantry accomplishments, she placed first runner-up in the competition for Miss Global World India 2024: “Patience, resilience and discipline are qualities that are highly valued in pageantry. As an experienced Taekwondo player and teacher, my participation in athletics has greatly aided in my acquisition of these qualities. I developed a strong mindset and learned mental discipline from my experience as a Taekwondo coach. It not only increased my physical strength but also taught me how to focus my energy in the appropriate places to push over discomfort barriers.”
Regarding her educational background, she holds a degree in International Economics and has two years of experience as a qualified national referee and pet groomer. She is also a national Taekwondo athlete! Oh, Shemonyl has four years of experience as a Taekwondo coach. “My parents have instilled in me the value of academics from an early age and as a pageant winner, I hope to share this knowledge with other young people who may be considering a career in fashion. I think it’s critical for individuals to pursue interests outside of their careers. It has aided me in becoming more extroverted and confident in myself in addition to helping me acquire new abilities and cultivate a varied personality.”
It does require tremendous mental fortitude and the skill of flexibility to win several titles across different pageants. Speaking from personal experience, “My pageant journey has been filled with a myriad of both minor and large disappointments. For example, I completed my pageant attire, but it didn’t appear like what I had envisioned it would shortly before the upcoming final round. But I solved the wardrobe conundrum by remaining cool, collected and prompt in my team coordination. I’m really passionate about raising awareness of beauty inclusivity and diversity as well as beauty that transcends the shallow standards that the media sets, promoting a variety of ways that beauty is portrayed globally.”
In her spare time, Shemonyl enjoys baking, swimming, riding bikes and practicing martial arts. Her strongest suit is her adaptability and fortitude! “In order to empower future pageant hopefuls and models to claim their space and redefine beauty according to their own standards, I intend to start my own pageant academy. I can stay grounded and focused, learn to slow down and make connections with like-minded people because it helps me develop a sense of resilience and humility and lets me express myself in different ways. I therefore take my exercise seriously, stay to a routine and follow it. Before deciding to enter the beauty pageant business, you must undergo extensive and rigorous training in both the physical and mental domains.”
For both pageants, the same amount of preparation is needed, but when competing on a worldwide scale, there are higher standards. Participating in an international pageant draws more spectators and increases the amount of unspoken pressure. Additionally, participants must master the dress code and adhere to particular etiquette when representing their country abroad. “One misconception I would like to debunk is that pageant contestants are entitled or superficial; it is actually untrue, as they are very rooted and grounded,” she says in her concluding remarks. “Since they are aware of how critical it is to preserve interpersonal ties and place a high value on inner beauty and fitness. Simply believing in your wildest aspirations may seem impossible, but it is possible if you have a well-thought-out plan and pursue your true vision. I want to be remembered as a gregarious person who dared to venture beyond her comfort zone and as a beauty queen.”
