Tejal Sinha
tejal.sinha30@gmail.com
From the golden mustard fields of Kota, Rajasthan, to the glittering spotlight of the world stage, Nandini Gupta’s journey is a story woven with dreams, determination, and destiny. Crowned Femina Miss India World 2023 at just 21, Nandini is not merely walking toward a crown—she is carrying the hopes of a billion hearts as she represents India at the 72nd Miss World pageant. Rooted in the values of hard work and perseverance, this farmer’s daughter has risen to become a true symbol of beauty with purpose, effortlessly balancing her Business Management studies with a meteoric career in fashion, advocacy, and soon, acting. A muse for celebrated designers like Randeep Ranawat, Bhawna Rao and Sahil Kochhar, she has also lent her voice to ethical fashion and social causes, championing handloom artisans and supporting cancer warriors. Yet, beyond the glamour, beats a heart devoted to change—through her Beauty With A Purpose project, ‘Ekta’, inspired by her uncle with Down Syndrome, she is rewriting the narrative for the differently-abled, one act of inclusion at a time. Adorned in the creations of Rohit Bal for the World Designer Award, The Pioneer sat down with Nandini for an exclusive chat ahead of the pageant, looking back at her humble beginnings and inspiring journey.
EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW
Nandini, you’ve come a long way from Kota, Rajasthan, to becoming Femina Miss India World 2023. Can you tell us about your journey and how it shaped the person you are today?
Well, I would love to say that from the mustard fields to Mumbai’s spotlight, I have transformed myself from child-like demeanor to now a woman who is representing India at the global stage, and my journey has been anything but conventional. I am looking forward to representing my country at the global platform at the 72nd edition of Miss World, which is happening in India, and that too in Telangana. My journey had all the aspects of a person where there were struggles, pits of failures, a lot of perseverance and resilience, but I kept on working harder and harder and tried my best to give my dreams their own space in the ‘City of Dreams.’
You’re balancing a successful career in modeling and advocacy while pursuing a degree in Business Management. How do you manage to juggle both academics and such a dynamic career?
I studied Masters in Management during my college, and that’s where I learnt theory. The practicality came into use when it was time for me to understand the management skills that I have, and from a school-going girl to the pageantry dream, from pageant training to state typer, from Miss India title to my commercial work and now doing it with Miss World – My Beauty with a Purpose – and managing everything beautifully.
Being a farmer’s daughter, your roots are deeply grounded in hard work. How have these values influenced your approach to your career and your advocacy work?
I only think that my foundation has not been that of a spotlight, but it has been of soil. I’m a girl raised by the land, shaped by love and children by purpose. So, I am only looking forward to being called as the nation’s daughter, a farmer’s daughter who had won the crown for India because a backbone of India is farmers. I carry a lot of agricultural heritage within me. My values have shaped me, have shaped my character, and everywhere I go, I make sure that I inspire all the girls who come from the rural backgrounds of India.
Can you share with us some of the most memorable moments from your journey toward Miss World, particularly your preparation for the pageant?
Of course, my training takes a great part in my journey to make it memorable. That’s what has turned me into a woman now, from a child-like demeanor to now a woman who is an orator. I have transformed 360 degrees – from my character to my personality, to my thought process, and the way I carry myself. Even my wardrobe – I have learned a lot of great makeup skills and also I have learned to do different hairstyles on myself. That’s one thing that I love to do. I love to style myself. I love to dress up, and it is often said that if you want to look good, you have to feel good, and vice versa.
As India prepares to host the 72nd Miss World, what does it mean to you personally to represent your country on such a grand stage?
For India to host the 72nd Miss World, it is a moment of pride and its for the second consecutive time in India, it means so much that I am getting to represent India on my home soil. What could be a better host country than India? I’m looking forward to welcoming around 120 countries to India with so much warm hospitality, which is what India is known for – our traditions, our customs. I’m looking forward for all of them to explore India, unveil the beauty, unwind the magic, and take back a load of memories with them.
The pressure of representing India at the Miss World pageant must be immense, especially when the competition is taking place in India. How do you handle that pressure?
Well, it’s about looking towards the optimistic side of every aspect. At this time, there is more of a job to do; preparation instead of taking pressure, because if you start to take pressure, you end up ruining everything. That’s what I believe. I am preparing myself for all the aspects, and I know that I do have immense responsibilities. With responsibilities, there come a lot of expectations from people. But apart from expectations, there’s love and hope of 1.4 billion people. That’s what I’m looking forward to – to receive a lot of their love, a lot of their warmth, and a lot of their blessings, because blessings are what take you further.
Your Beauty with a Purpose project, ‘Ekta’, focuses on supporting the differently-abled community. Can you share more about what inspired you to champion this cause?
My Chacha (uncle), who is a differently-abled individual, has polio and developmental delays and intellectual disability. Growing up, I saw that he’s living in a world that is not made for him, where people would call him with remarks like ‘madman’ or ‘mental.’ My question was – what would happen to those who don’t have family support or the financial background to even support their disability or help them? That question became my purpose, and that purpose is now my project – which was once a dream, once a vision, and now a reality. It’s my firm mission to advocate for differently-abled individuals. My only aim through the project is to empower the community, to make them financially independent, to give them employment opportunities, and also to make sure that inclusivity is in our minds – not just about sympathy or charity, but about a willingness to celebrate their uniqueness. I have realized over time, while working with 3000+ students who have disabilities, engaging with 15+ faculty members, and partnering with eight NGOs, that disability is not about incapability, but about the willingness or unwillingness of society to look beyond the labels set by society itself. I hope for a world where no child would be told, “You can’t,” because of their disability; where dreams take place without limitations, where dignity is never questioned. I am looking forward to making that world possible through Project Ekta, with baby steps, and I am sure that, in real time, the effects will be visible.
What does ‘Ekta’ mean to you beyond its literal translation of ‘togetherness’? How has it redefined your idea of inclusivity and strength?
Ekta means oneness, and it’s about making one community. It’s about building an incredible, inclusive, and independent community. I think inclusivity and strength are correlated. Inclusivity is not just about charity or sympathy – it is majorly about celebrating differences, celebrating uniqueness. In India, we celebrate diversity. We celebrate linguistic diversity; we celebrate diversity in all kinds of buildings. But why don’t we celebrate the diversity of people who are differently-abled? I think it’s overdue, and we need to change our perception – not only in how we see differently-abled individuals, but also in how differently-abled individuals see themselves through us.
You’ve worked with renowned designers like Randeep Ranawat and Bhawna Rao, and you’re also preparing for the World Designer Award. How important is it for you to celebrate Indian craftsmanship on the global stage?
In India, every piece is a handcrafted heritage. When you wear an outfit, you are not only reflecting the designer or the outfit itself, but you are reflecting the hours put in by the artisans – their hard work, their years, even generations of experience. The amount of love, warmth, and care they put into making an outfit, the intricacy that goes into it, is just beautiful. When an outfit comes together on stage, when a heritage piece comes into the limelight, it’s not only the designer’s vision – it’s the hard work of all the artisans. It’s the dream of every girl to wear that outfit. With my outfit for the Miss World, I feel honoured to be wearing from Rohit Bal’s last collection and it’s beautiful.
As a global ambassador and role model, what message do you hope to impart to young women in India and around the world, especially as you take the stage at Miss World?
Coming from a farming background, where women are often told that you are too small for your dreams or that you won’t be able to reach them because you come from humble beginnings, I was also once told the same. But you know what – society’s perception should not become your perception. They have their opinion about you, which is their right, but you cannot let their opinion define you. Where you come from doesn’t matter, but where you want to go surely does. Keep looking forward. Don’t ever look back. I know it takes the heart of a soldier to come forward and fight for your dreams, but in the end, it will be worth it. So fight with a warrior’s heart and just shine. If you get the stage, make it your own.
