A wife, mother, designer and image consultant, Dubai resident Uma Ghosh Deshpande is now Mrs India 2005 second runner-up
Dubai-based fashion designer and image consultant, Uma Ghosh Deshpande was chosen the second runner-up at the Mrs India 2005 pageant held in Mumbai, India, on December 4.
The pageant aims to make the statement that a woman can be beautiful and an achiever in her own right while fulfilling her responsibilities as a wife and mother.
Uma, who has a four-year-old son, also won the title of Best Model.
"As a school girl, I had written a story where I imagined that I was famous and being pursued by the press. That dream came true last week," says the excited winner, who follows in the footsteps of well-known winners such as model Aditi Gowatrikar and actresses Tannaz Currim and Deepshika.
Uma's father was in the Indian Air Force and she has lived in many places all over India. She graduated in fashion design, but began her working career as an airhostess with Jet Airways, a domestic Indian carrier.
She moved to Dubai six years ago, when her husband, Yogesh, got a job here. After her son, Dhruv, was born in 2000, Uma took a short break from her career.
But she used this time to research the Dubai market in preparation for launching her own fashion label.
She launched her label, called ‘Pepper by Uma', two years ago and had her first major showing in Dubai this year at Oomphs 2004.
This year has been quite eventful for Uma. She made her film debut as a designer, designing the complete look for the Jimmy Shergill and Saloni starrer Reh Guzar, which was shot in Dubai and is now ready for release.
Uma also designed the outfits for Pakistani actress Sana for the Hindi film Sitam, also shot in Dubai. She was also invited to design the outfits for the contestants of the UAE leg of the Musafir Star Hunt, which was eventually won by UAE-based Tatyana.
In Dubai, Uma has also built a reputation for herself as an image consultant, working with individuals and conducting workshops on grooming for corporate groups. She was invited this year to Indonesia to help in the grooming of the participants in the Miss India Worldwide pageant.
"My husband and friends have been urging me to participate in this contest for many years. But I could never find the time. This year I was in Mumbai to organise my winter collection when the contest was announced.
"On a whim I went in for the auditions and was selected. After that there was no looking back. My husband insisted that I should go through with it and had complete confidence that I would be among the winners," says Uma.
"I am really fortunate that my family and friends believe in me more than I do in myself and this helped me to approach the contest with confidence," she adds.
The month before the contest was hectic. The contestants were flown to Mauritius for a week of training and later they underwent two weeks of intensive training in Mumbai.
"It was a great leaning experience for me. They had organised workshops by well-known cosmetologists, voice trainers, modelling instructors, choreographers and even talks on investments and how to handle your money.
"I found the photography sessions most useful because they helped me to learn about my best angles and how to present myself well," says Uma.
"It was the first time I have been away from my husband for so long, but it was his constant encouragement that got me here," she adds.
Twenty-four participants were selected for the contest, which consisted of three rounds - a bridal wear round, an evening gown round and for the six finalists a round where they answered questions from the judges, actors Priety Zinta, Tabu and Fardeen Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala.
"My question came from Priety Zinta. She asked me to state the best and worst thing about marriage. I said that the best thing was that you have someone who is with you in the ups and downs of life; and the worst part is that sometimes you are expected to do a little too much," recalls Uma.
Uma was not nervous before the results were announced because she felt sure that she would be among the winners.
"I had the confidence and the right attitude, so I was expecting to win something. I got worried when the sub-awards were announced and my name was not in the first few as I expected to win Best Personality.
"Winning Best Model was the best surprise ever, because it combines personality, beauty, catwalk skills and attitude," she says.
Being the second runner-up, her name was announced first. "It took some time to sink in. We were immediately surrounded by reporters and TV cameras and I really missed my husband, who could not come to Mumbai. But my mother and mother-in-law were there to cheer for me," says Uma.
Uma has been flooded with calls from friends and well wishers but has immediately turned her attention to her work.
"My winter collection should not be delayed," she insists. Asked about her plans for the future, she says.
"This contest has provided a good platform for me as a designer and I hope it will help me to fulfil my dream of making Pepper an international label. I have received some modelling offers and am open to modelling as long as it does not interfere with my designing," she says.
