It feels great to have finally achieved something that I wanted to do for a really long time , looking back at my entire Miss India journey it gets me really emotional. I miss every single bit of it. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, I had to push my limits to get through it but it was all worth it. Miss India made me grow as a person, it has changed my perspective in life. Pageant preparations can be very hectic and exhausting and Doing everything alone from the very start of the pageant till the very end of it is something that I am very proud of.
Retro Kolkata : First of all, thanks a lot for accepting our invitation for an interview. It's a great pleasure to have you as our Guest. Let’s start from the first question… Let's jump into the past. What has been your dream since you were a kid? …what would you like to do?
Angelia : When I was a kid, there were a lot of things I wanted to do when I grew up. I wanted to become an architect, I wanted to become a supermodel,
I wanted to be an actress, I wanted to be an interior designer, at some point I even wanted to join the Indian army.
But as I grew up, I realised that I wanted to be an influential personality while being an artist in whatever field I chose, because both of these things have always been a major part of my personality.
I always wanted to inspire people and become a role model to many, which I think I have achieved to a certain level and I want to continue to do so, thanks to Retro Kolkata Magazine for letting me share my experience.
Retro Kolkata : You are the girl who fuelled her dreams to make it a reality! An inspiration to all the common girls who dream of being a queen! Heartiest congratulations on winning the title of Femina Miss India J&K 2022, How does it feel?
Thank you so much.
Angelia : It feels great to have finally achieved something that I wanted to do for a really long time , looking back at my entire Miss India journey it gets me really emotional. I miss every single bit of it.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, I had to push my limits to get through it but it was all worth it. Miss India made me grow as a person, it has changed my perspective in life.
Pageant preparations can be very hectic and exhausting and Doing everything alone from the very start of the pageant till the very end of it is something that I am very proud of.
Retro Kolkata : Could you walk us through your preparation routine for Miss India: diet, fitness, personality training, etc.?
Angelia : My diet was mostly the same, simple home cooked meals are the best, nothing fancy is needed, Although I enjoy having different kinds of salads. I avoid stuffing myself up and prefer to eat in small portions.
I really do believe that somebody who is slim is not always fit.
You can be of any body type but the ultimate goal should be to have a healthy and toned body rather than a slim one. I personally have been into a lot of sports in my entire school life, so that made a lot of difference, I prefer walking and going out for runs , that helps me maintain my body, other than that I am truly grateful of my genes.
I am very grateful of Mrs. Rita Gangwani ma’am who’s helped me to shape my personality and groomed me in such a way where I could be more confident about myself. A lot of credit also goes to Miss India Organisation, that gave me the opportunity to learn from the top most professionals in the industry.
Retro Kolkata : Every competition can be stressful. How do you keep your mental health in check?
Angelia : In such competitions, remain calm is very important. You should be patient about the process and just give your best. I personally feel that it’s all in the head. We create that stress for ourselves.
During the pageant I tried to stay positive about everything. I used to talk to my friends and family to keep myself sane and who helped me believe in myself all over again once I spoke to them after every breakdown that I had.
I believe that you should never let that stress get the best of you.
Retro Kolkata : Did you always want to be a beauty queen? If not a beauty queen, what would you be?
Angelia : Becoming a beauty queen has never been my ultimate goal. It has always been one of the things that I wanted to be, and it is something that has been ticked off from my check list. I’ve always been very keen on becoming a model, not just on the Indian platform but internationally and that is my dream at the moment.
Retro Kolkata : You are from Amity School of Design. Being a girl with relatively no modelling background, how did you manage to face the challenges that came your way in the journey of Miss India contest?
Angelia : Being an interior designer, I have always had that artistic side. I am someone who’s been artistic in all the aspects of my life.
Modelling is no different, it is something that came very naturally to me, but on a professional platform I learnt a lot of things, from the professionals and other established models who were present around me during my miss India journey. I tend to observe things and learn from them and that's exactly what I did. Miss India has given me immense amount of exposure, where I used to learn something new everyday so I am glad all of that came as a challenge to me, where I could establish myself as a model.
Retro Kolkata : Having been involved in the Fashion Scene, do you think there’s anything about the Indian beauty pageant scene and the modelling scene that needs to change?
Angelia : I think that the Indian beauty standards have immensely evolved over the past few years. It’s great that we are finally accepting all kinds of beauty. So many young women all over the country have broken stereotypes about colour and physical attributes. Pageants are all about showcasing different kinds of beauty and I think the purpose is being fulfilled and people are very receptive of that even in the industry.
I am glad to see how we are promoting this side of beauty.
Retro Kolkata : What pros and cons did you experience while coming from Jammu & Kashmir to the modelling and pageant world?
Angelia : I come from an army background. The constant moving and shifting has been the greatest pro and con of my life. The pro being that, I was already raised differently than others and had the opportunity to meet so many different people from all over the country that gave me with a diverse range of experiences. The biggest drawback was having very few opportunities to get an exposure in the field of modelling and pageant world. It gets very hard to find opportunities where you could constantly learn and work on yourself to be on a bigger platform.
Retro Kolkata : Where do you see yourself five years down the lane? Any future plans for entering into the Bollywood industry?
Angelia : Five years down the line, I see myself as an established model and I also want to have my own brand chain of interior decor.
I do wish to explore in the field of acting and hopefully enter the Bollywood industry because I think that I have a knack for acting, so I will definitely go to grab the opportunity, where I could showcase my talent.
Retro Kolkata : Give us a fun fact people might not know about you yet.
Angelia : When I was six years old, I fell from a monkey climber while hanging upside down, and my entire face was distorted and even after that, I just wanted to go out and play the very next day.
Retro Kolkata : Any message to all the aspiring girls who dream to be successful in the Indian beauty pageant scene?
Angelia : I would like to tell all the girls out there that just believe in yourself and trust your capabilities even if no one else does. Most importantly don’t forget who you are and just be yourself, no matter what, because at the end of the day you should be happy with yourself and what you’ve become.
Count every little step you take as an achievement and keep learning throughout your journey, because that is what will help you grow as a person.
Everybody is beautiful in their own way, so embrace it !
Retro Kolkata : We (Retro Kolkata) are trying to build one single stage for all the artists, because we believe that artists are the most beautiful creation of God and geographical boundaries can never break their unity and harmony. Please say something about our initiative and any special message for your followers.
Angelia : I think it’s a great thought and initiative taken by Retro Kolkata.
I truly appreciate it and respect what this organisation is trying to achieve.
Giving a voice to all the artists out there and appreciating their work, creating a platform for them to present themselves to the world is something very unique and I’m glad that I could be part of it.
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