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In conversation with Neepa Singh, the state director of Miss Universe India from Gujarat
Neepa Singh from Ahmedabad has been appointed the state director of the Miss Universe India competition for Gujarat. She is the founder of the Neepa Singh Productions Pvt. Ltd. (the organizer of the Miss Universe Gujarat competition) and the founder and managing trustee of the Kuljyoti Foundation. She will be responsible for the selection of the representative(s) from the state of Gujarat for the upcoming Miss Universe India contest – the Indian preliminary event to the world’s biggest beauty pageant, Miss Universe. Neepa’s tryst with this scintillating world of glitz and glamour began in the year 1992. In 2016, she won the title of Mrs. India United Nations Classic and went on to become the first Indian woman to win the Mrs. United Nations Classic title in the year 2017. This multi-award winning beauty queen holds a master’s degree in commerce and accounting and is an entrepreneur and social activist. Her journey of 32 years in the fashion industry has witnessed crucial events that have shaped her into the person that she is today. She has also been felicitated by the chief minister of Gujarat for her contributions to the society. In this exclusive interview with the Beauty High magazine, she talks about his journey so far and what can be expected from the state of Gujarat at the upcoming Miss Universe India competition.
Q. Many congratulations to you on being appointed the state director for the Miss Universe India competition. How does it feel to shoulder such a prominent responsibility?
Answer: Thank you so much. I am beyond elated on being appointed as the State Director for Miss Universe India. It is an honour to have this prominent responsibility but it is also the perfect opportunity to find and connect with the amazing talents and give them the platform to shine and make their mark. It is truly the dawn of a new era of Miss Universe India.
Q. What inspired you to take up the role of a beauty pageant director, and what keeps you motivated in this industry?
Answer: Since a long time, I have been observing that there are several beautiful and talented girls; who have the potential to reach greater heights and bring a positive impact in the society, if they are provided with the right platform. This is what that has inspired me to take up this role of a beauty pageant director. Through this platform, I can help such talented individuals by providing them with the spotlight that they deserve and nurture them the strong and empowered women of the 21st century.
Q. Please tell us about your journey in the beauty pageant industry. When did it begin and how has your experience been so far?
Answer: My journey in the pageant industry began in the year 1992. In 1996, I organized the first ever designer’s contest in Nagpur. Then, after a break of 20 years, in 2016, I won Mrs. India United Nations Classic title and subsequently went on to win the Mrs. United Nations Classic title in 2017. It was the first time that India won this international title. I felt extremely happy with my comeback to the pageant world. It also gave me the hope that this industry has so much to offer, if you have the potential. I am a living testimony of this. Even though I had won the international title, I still felt there was something incomplete and I can do much more than this. Then after a few years, in 2024, I received the opportunity of being the state director for Miss Universe India. The path that I have walked might not have been a conventional one but with every milestone that I have achieved, I have learnt a new thing. I am familiar with the feeling of winning a crown and it is beyond explainable. I am eagerly waiting see another candidate (or I would say a dreamer, just like me) experience this same feeling.
Q. How do you stay attuned to ever-evolving trends and preferences within the beauty pageant industry?
Answer: I believe that my experience, the curiosity to learning new things and the ability to observe and adapt keep me up to date in getting attuned with the evolving trends and preferences within the beauty pageant industry. Along with that I believe in the dynamic mode of functioning. We need to keep moving with the society and adjust with the changes that take place in it. I never shy away from learning anything new, be it in my personal life or professional life. Alongside that I have a 25 year-old son who supports me a lot. He helps me understand a variety of subjects from newer advancements in technology to currents events or what’s happening around the world. He keeps me updated with what the latest trends are and helps me implement them in my own way.
Q. What is going to be your plan of action now that you have been assigned the responsibility of selecting your region’s representative(s) for the prestigious Miss Universe India 2024 competition?
Answer: It is ecstatic being in the process to find the Gujarat representative for Miss Universe India 2024. I am excited to see the talent from all over Gujarat and their overall potential. The participants will be subjected to different rounds which will test them in different aspects of the pageant, starting with the auditions all over Gujarat leading up to the grand finale. The aim is to give the contestants an opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities in different aspects with real world exposure, from which the best will be crowned as Miss Universe Gujarat.
Q. Can you please share some behind-the-scenes insights into the planning and execution of the selection process that will be conducted to select your region's representatives) for the national finals of Miss Universe India 2024?
Answer: We want to ensure that the contestants get real world exposure and that they get used to the environment when they go ahead in their respective careers. For which we have tied up with different brands and different field experts to guide and train them. We want to ensure that they get a great platform and have a transparent decision in the selection of the representative. The selection process also requires good coordination and clarity within the team and we are well set with that.
Q. What qualities are you going to be looking for while selecting your region’s representative(s) for the upcoming Miss Universe India competition?
Answer: The representative has to be a multipotentialite with a dynamic and versatile personality. We are looking for qualities like good runway skills, confidence, a way to carry themselves in different types of outfits, affinity to help people, good speaking skills which can connect with the public and society to make a difference and also be aware of the current affairs and social issues which she can take a stand on with her opinion.
Q. Once the selection of the representative(s) is done, will there be any training program that the representative(s) will be attending prior to heading to the national finals?
Answer: Yes, the representative will have a training program where all the different aspects of the competition will be covered so that she can give her best performance on the national stage.
Q. What is the most crucial piece of advice that you would like to share with the individuals that want to join the beauty pageant industry?
Answer: The most crucial piece of advice I would like to share is to always believe in yourself and showcase your uniqueness with all your different aptitudes. Have confidence in yourself and see this opportunity as more than just a pageant but a platform to actually make a difference in your life and others.
Q. Any message for the readers.
Answer: Be the change that you want to see in society.
As Neepa Singh unfolds a new chapter in her life by undertaking the responsibility of selecting the representative(s) from Gujarat for the upcoming Miss Universe India competition, we wish her good luck in her new journey. Whoever wins the title, it is very certain that she will receive the right guidance and training under the management of Neepa Singh. It will be indeed exciting to see who will mark Gujarat’s debut at the nation’s biggest pageant this year.
