Getting To Know Vartika Singh - Miss Universe India 2019
From
http://www.criticalbeauty.com/VARTIKA SINGH is India's representative to the Miss Universe 2019 pageant to be held in Atlanta, Georgia on December 8. Critical Beauty wishes this beautiful multi-faceted young woman the best of luck as she attempts to bring home India's third Miss Universe crown.
1. Why should you be Miss Universe?
It's the fact that I've built who I am from the ground up, with hard work and an insatiable hunger to learn and evolve, that gives me an unshakable kind of rootedness. I've been working towards the betterment of public health for years now, and am deeply committed to the cause irrespective of pageantry. I've also been able to build a name for myself in the fashion industry in India very quickly, and have a significant amount of professional experience in the industry.
The fact that I've been through various struggles, personal and professional, and been able to navigate them sensibly makes me want to connect with other women in the hope that my journey can help them, just as other amazing women have taught and inspired me through their lives. I'm all about building a positive community that make every single woman out there feel no less than a Miss Universe!
2. What makes you stand out from the other contestants?
It is perhaps my interest in learning about others that makes me stand out. Of course, I have my own thoughts, experiences and opinions, and I have the strongest voice speaking on issues that truly matter; but in general, in my personal interactions, I am keenly interested in listening - in having real conversations, building bonds that mean something, and learning more about other people and their cultures.
I would also like to add my journey from a small town to a big city, my professional experience, my effort, and so on, but I trust many of the other wonderful women at Miss Universe will have a similar history!
If it's lunch we're talking about, perhaps Joël Robuchon? Jokes apart, I would love to meet Jane Austen, Anne Frank, or, if I had to pick just one - Maya Angelou. These strong women with their strong voices have inspired me in numerous ways, and I would have loved the opportunity to get to know them in person. I find Maya Angelou's writing especially moving, hence the choice.
4. Describe your dream job.
I'm living it! A large part of my job requires me to keep working on myself in a well-rounded way, I get to meet the most wonderful people in all parts of the world as I shoot in different places, and I do manage to find the time to pursue my other passion - making healthcare more accessible - as well. Being Miss Universe would be a macro version of this, so, for now, I would say that is my dream job!
5. Tell us about your biggest disappointment and how you bounced back from it.
Not winning the first pageant I participated in! Looking back, I feel like things couldn't have panned out any better. In the moment, yes, I was disheartened, but as a result of that, I grew so much as a person, sought out so many wonderful mentors who have brought me to where I am today, and when I tell a young girl today to not take failures to heart, I know how she feels, and I know how to guide her out of that dark place. The kind of empathy I've developed as a result is a blessing.
6. What do you think is the biggest problem facing young people today?
The biggest issue the world at large is facing today is certainly environmental damage. But for younger people, specifically, I would have to say mental health is a huge challenge. There are multiple factors leading to a kind of loneliness and apathy that isn't doing the younger generations any good. We have to find ways to reconnect and recognize each other's humanness.