Diary of a beauty queen: From Dubai to Miss Universe India — My bold reinvention at 42

Dubai: When I tell people I’m competing in Miss Universe India, they almost always do a double take.

I’m 42. A mother of two teenagers. And I live in Dubai, not Delhi or Mumbai. I’m not your typical beauty queen — and that’s exactly the point.

This journey isn’t about fitting into a mold. It’s about breaking it. It’s about saying yes to reinvention, yes to discomfort, yes to doing something wildly outside your comfort zone — even when it terrifies you. Especially then.

So, as I pack my heels, my kids’ letters, and all the grit I’ve built over the years, here are 12 things I want you to know about what this moment truly means.

1. I fly to Delhi from Dubai to officially begin this journey.

From there, we head to Indore on the 18th, and then it’s a full month of non-stop pageant life across multiple cities in India, multiple rounds, and 53 incredible women — including state titleholders and NRI participants from around the world.

2. I’m the oldest contestant this year at 42.

That in itself is overwhelming. Everyone around me is in their 20s. And I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel the weight of that difference. The doubts have been loud: Am I too old? Too late? Do I really belong here?

3. Courage isn’t the absence of doubt. It’s showing up anyway.

And I’ve worked too hard — not just these last few months, but over the last 10 years — to not believe I belong on that stage.

4. This isn’t just a pageant for me.

It’s the culmination of a quiet, steady reinvention. After nearly two decades in corporate, I left everything to build a life that felt true. Modeling at 40. Pageantry at 42. I’m proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

5. People think pageants are about the stage, the dress, the smile.

But what they don’t see is the emotional stamina it takes. You’re constantly being observed — not just how you perform, but how you speak, how you connect, how you handle pressure, fatigue, and competition.

6. It’s not all glamour.

Some days are 14 hours long. You might be in full makeup with blisters on your feet, posing with a smile while managing stress and sleep deprivation — and still expected to be your best, kindest self.

7. I’ve been preparing in ways that go beyond rehearsing a walk or practicing answers.

It’s about mental clarity, emotional regulation, physical strength, and learning how to show up fully — even when you’re tired or scared.

8. I’ve had to remind myself that I’m not here to compete with anyone else.

I’m here to become the most authentic, powerful version of myself. And trust that that’s enough.

9. I’m also reminding myself to stay present.

To have fun. To make friends. Because no matter what happens, these moments won’t come back — and I want to live them fully.

10. One of the biggest surprises? How vulnerable this process is.

You’re constantly putting yourself out there — for feedback, for comparison, for judgment. And that takes guts. But it also builds grace.

11. I’ve packed so many gowns and heels.

But more importantly, I’ve packed handwritten letters from my kids, a little necklace from my son, and the duas of my parents. That’s what’s going to carry me through the days that feel hard.

12. I don’t know how this story ends.

But I know this: I’ve already won in the ways that matter. Because I chose to begin again. And that takes a kind of beauty no crown can define.

*Every week, Tasneem Raza will chronicle her incredible journey as a Miss Universe India pageant participant from Dubai. Stay tuned for this series.