23-year-old Manasa Varanasi from Telangana, Hyderabad was crowned Miss India 2020. In a recent interview, she talked about her inspiring journey which led to her big win.
How was your journey of becoming Miss India 2020?
My journey has been magical. A lot of hard work and energy has gone into the process and to realise that I am finally here living this moment is a great feeling.
Why did you decide to be a part of this pageant?
It was mostly my curiosity driving me. I have always loved challenges. I love looking for new ways to push myself mentally and physically. And Miss India was the perfect platform for me to not only learn more about myself but also look for ways in which I can give back to society. And so, it’s the mixture of the two which brought me into the direction of Miss India.
What kind of challenges did you face in your journey of becoming Miss India?
A lot of challenges. It had many ups and downs. There was a balancing act back at home because my family wasn’t supportive initially of my decision. Now of course, things have changed. They are all my cheer-leaders. But I faced little bit of challenge there. And I come from a very academic oriented family. So, I wasn’t very well-versed in the glitz and glamour side of this competition because there’s a good balance of your physical grooming as well as your mental stability. So, I think there was a lot of time and energy I spent in these two aspects.
When did you decide that you have to be Miss India?
Well, it wasn’t one moment that decided it all. I think, it all a very slow decision that I took because I had a lot of friends pushing me saying ‘Go for it. We know you have it.’ And then of course, there were lot of signboards around me saying ‘Apply Now’. It felt like the universe was giving me a sign saying ‘Why don’t you just go ahead and give it a shot?’ And so, I went ahead, applied and now when I look back, I feel so glad that I did because this has been so transformative.