DUBAI A Dubai-based cosmetologist has made it to the finals of the annual Mrs India Asia International beauty pageant to be held in Chennai on May 22.
Dr Poonam Sharma, 44, the head of the Aesthetic Department at Getwell Medical Center, Bur Dubai, made the cut after beating hundreds of contestants in various rounds of auditions and interviews.
“I registered for the pageant in December 2015 and was thrilled when the organisers called in January and asked me to fly down to Jamshedpur for the auditions,” recalled Dr Sharma, who is the only contestant from the UAE.
Excited and nervous
“I had never participated in something like this before, but I was ready for the challenge – excited and nervous at the same time. There were two rounds of interviews, but they didn’t declare the result right away. I returned to Dubai not knowing what lay ahead. Then I had two more interviews on the telephone. It was only in March-end that they informed me I was one of the finalists.”
Dr Sharma was at her clinic when she got that all-important call. “I was ecstatic. I called my husband immediately to share the good news. He could not believe it. The only reason why I sent my application was because as a cosmetologist I wanted to be on the other side and see what it feels to be recognised as a beautiful woman.
“The whole process has given me immense confidence and I would like to tell all women – as much as you look good on the outside, make sure to be a good person at the end of the day.”
Dr Sharma, who has lived in Dubai since 2010, served in the Indian army prior to coming here. “I served in the Indian Army Medical Corps from 1996 to 2006. My husband, also in the army, retired two years later as a colonel and is now a surgeon at Lifeline Hospital in Dubai.”
After leaving the army Dr Sharma went to Singapore to specialise in cosmetology. “My husband and I wanted to provide our daughter with a strong foundation and that decision brought us to Dubai in 2010. The city has given us so much and whether I win the title or not, I plan to get involved in charitable causes in the UAE in order to give back something to a country that is taking care of so many expatriates.”
