MLC

Reenaa Verma, a mom, an entrepreneur, social worker, actor and beauty pageant winner talks to The MLC about her winning moment.  

“I started working in the travel industry and then moved to educational counselling. I did that for nearly a decade and had my first baby at 35, and then I got pregnant again at the age of 40. I remember going to my gynaecologist at that time and asking her if I’d hit menopause. When she told me I was pregnant, I burst into tears. I had a problem conceiving my first child, so this pregnancy was a miracle. 

While raising my kids and working in Bangalore as a Business Development Manager in an overseas education consultancy, I realised I’d like a change and could try my hand at Image Consulting as I had a passion for grooming and styling. I was 45 at that time, and I started studying again. Someone told me that I should try modelling. I didn’t feel like I had it in me, but this lady, my trainer, kept pushing me to take the opportunity. 

So I decided to go for it. I enrolled for the Mrs. India – I am Beautiful pageant in 2019 and felt that I would learn to be more confident in front of an audience after this. I cleared the first round in Bangalore, and then we had another round with contestants from across the country. Post that, around 30 of us were selected for the finals to be held in Hilton Hotel in Goa. They told us to keep our clothes ready for the final event and learn to walk in heels. As a mother who turned to her flats for comfort, this was hard (laughs). But I was determined to do this. I hired a choreographer (I have two left feet) and prepared my routine for the talent round. We even had sessions with image consultants and fitness experts, and we were taught how to walk the ramp. 

I felt like I failed miserably at the talent round, not because my routine was bad but because I was not fully committed on the stage. But since this was my first time on stage, after school, I forgave myself and decided to enjoy the whole thing thoroughly. This was an opportunity to prove to myself that I could do this as long as I set my mind to it. 

I made it to the top 15, and then we had a round of impromptu questions. We then came down to a group of 5, and I remember those moments on the stage. Two runner-ups had already been announced, and the three of us were waiting for the final name. I remember thinking how much I wanted to win this. This was probably the last pageant I’d participate in, and I had the hunger to win it. I was here, without my husband or children, so that I could completely focus, and I wanted to walk away with the crown. This was the first time I was doing something entirely for myself in a long time. I love being a mother and a wife, but this was something that was just for me. There are so many achievements in my life where I am told I got it because I am lucky or because of my husband or my family. And while I truly appreciate all of that, I felt like this win would be completely mine. 

When I won and went back home, my husband came to pick me up and walking out, I truly felt like a queen with that crown. I have done so many things post that in my career–I do social work, I’ve worked in the entertainment industry– but that win truly feels like it belongs to me, one hundred per cent. I am a very spiritual person, and I think things happen to us for a reason. All we need to do is take action and go ahead with the plan.