RISING ON THE WORLD STAGE

Femina Miss India World 2023 NANDINI GUPTA shares her inspiring journey – from hailing from a farming family to representing the country at the 72nd Miss World Festival – in a candid chat with Parul Karn

- Parul Karn

Hailing from the vibrant city of Kota, Rajasthan, 21-year-old Nandini Gupta, crowned Femina Miss India World 2023, is set to represent India at the 72nd Miss World Festival, at which around 110 countries are expected to participate.

India is hosting the prestigious Miss World Festival back to back in a row for the first time – this time in Telangana. Last year, the event was held in Mumbai. This year, Hyderabad, the city of pearls, will host the opening and closing ceremonies, charitable initiatives, gala dinners, cultural showcases, and the much-anticipated grand finale. It will be held on May 31, 2025, at the HITEX Exhibition Centre, featuring subtitles such as Beauty With A Purpose, Top Model, Multi-Media Award, Sports Challenge, Talent, and the Head To Head Challenge. Since 1972, Beauty With a Purpose has been at the heart of Miss World, turning beauty into a force for humanitarian change across the globe. This is a moment of pride and anticipation – India awaits its seventh crown after seven years.

When asked how she imagines her journey has panned out so far, Nandini’s response is very cinematic – “I often see myself running in those (Bollywood-esque) mustard fields, and then it cuts to the Mumbai spotlight, and, now, I’m living it.” The shift, she says, has been nothing short of transformational.

Having moved to the city of dreams – Mumbai – at 18 to pursue a Bachelors in Business and Finance, little did Nandini imagine that pageantry would change her life. “My foundation is that of soil, not the spotlight,” she explains. Raised in a farming family, she credits her discipline, patience, and work ethic to her upbringing. She has driven tractors and harvesters, and the values continue to guide her as she prepares for the Miss World Festival.