Diary of a Dubai Beauty Queen: Sisterhood in pageants is a real thing

Have you ever wondered if sisterhood in pageants is real or not? In our latest beauty queen series, Tasneem Raza spills the details.

At 42, Tasneem Raza — a Dubai-based mother of two and the oldest contestant at Miss Universe India — walked into the competition expecting glamour, grit, and maybe a little drama. What she didn’t expect was sisterhood. The kind that makes 50 other women cheer like mad when you hold a plank for 7 minutes and 10 seconds. The kind that rushes you to the hospital, fixes your pageant turns, and shares late-night pep talks over snacks. Beyond the sequins and stage lights, Tasneem discovered the real crown: a tribe of women lifting each other higher.

'It's so real that I can feel the goosebumps'

It’s easy to believe the stereotype. That beauty pageants are places of jealousy, drama, and competition that pits women against each other. I’ll admit, that may be true on occasions. But what I’ve experienced at Miss Universe India has shattered that myth and replaced it with memories that feel like the warmest hug.

Sisterhood in pageants? It’s real. So real that I can still feel the goosebumps.

One of my most treasured memories is our sports day at Miss Universe India. Picture this: 51 women — poised, elegant, beautiful — now in running shoes, cheering each other on as we tackled everything from basketball to badminton to planks. And somewhere in between, I found myself holding a plank for 7 minutes and 10 seconds.

Yes, 7 minutes and 10 seconds! At 42 years old, as the oldest contestant. A mother of two. I shocked myself, honestly. But what moved me even more than the win was what happened next. Every single girl — yes, all 50 of them — cheered me on like it was their own victory. There was so much love in that room, I could’ve burst into tears. (Okay, maybe I did.)

It was the kind of pure, unfiltered joy you feel when your best friend wins something they’ve worked hard for. That moment moved me deeply. It reminded me that beauty isn’t just in the gowns or the makeup or the stage presence. It’s in the way women hold each other up. It’s in the sisterhood.

I’ve always believed that women are magic. But at Miss Universe India, I saw that magic unfold in the little things. In the friendships that blossomed over shared lunches and late-night rehearsals. In the encouragement passed around before big moments. In the spontaneous pep talks and the heartfelt hugs after a tough day.

I remember one of the girls had a severe allergic reaction right after we arrived. No second thoughts—bags down, I ran with her to the hospital. That night bonded us for life. Today, she’s one of my dearest friends.

Another time, when I was struggling with my turns during practice, a fellow contestant patiently coached me. Showed me how to pivot. Encouraged me until I got it. When it came time to film our intro videos, one of the girls sat with me, ran lines with me, pushed me to find my voice—and because of her, I nailed it in one take. And I did the same for another.

We’ve taught each other how to walk, how to do our makeup, how to smile under pressure. We’ve cried together, laughed till we couldn’t breathe, shared snacks, stories, hopes, fears and a thousand “you’ve got this” glances.

And so, I want to say this loud and clear: pageant girls can be friends. We are friends. Not in a performative, “smile for the camera” way, but in a real, ride-or-die kind of way. There’s no cattiness here. No backstabbing or bitterness. Just 51 women from every corner of India and beyond, showing up for themselves—and for each other.

This article is a tribute to pageant girls. To every girl who stood next to me—not as a rival, but as a sister. Who believed in me, celebrated me, supported me, and let me do the same for them.

At Miss Universe India, I didn’t just find a platform. I found my tribe.

And that, to me, is the real victory.

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