Diary of a Dubai beauty queen: Miss Universe India 'not just a pageant, it’s a pressure cooker'

Dubai: In the second installment of Gulf News 'Diary Of A Beauty Queen' series, Dubai-based Tasneem Raza,42, shares a raw, candid, and powerful look at her first few days on the ground in India as a Miss Universe India contestant.

Think little sleep, many hours on heels, but a full heart.

This was symbolic for me—the start of a new journey.
I flew out from Dubai wearing all white, a colour that represents a clean slate. This journey isn’t just about competing. It’s about doing this at 42, with all of me—my truth, my fears, my scars, my hope—laid bare.

I landed a day early to squeeze in one final in-person session with my pageant walk coach. What people see on stage—a confident, graceful walk—is the result of hours and hours of technical training. Every step, every hand movement, every smile is intentional. This walk is a performance. A language. And I’m still learning to speak it fluently.

My back was killing me. I was exhausted. My coach and I were both running on fumes by the end. But this was our only shot at an in-person session before I moved to Indore, so I gave it everything. I’ve had several virtual sessions before, but being in the same room, getting corrected in real-time—it makes all the difference. Honestly? Walking has been one of my biggest struggles. I’m not a trained model. Most of the other girls are incredibly strong walkers. I’ve had to work twice as hard to catch up. This has been my area of growth—and I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I may not be the best, but I’ll leave knowing I gave it my best.

We flew from Delhi, and I finally met many of the girls in person. Some I already knew from following their journeys online. Some were new. All of them? Incredibly inspiring. These women are smart, driven, kind, and purposeful. Everyone has a story. Everyone is here for a reason. It’s going to be a tough job for the judges.

From the outside, it’s easy to get caught up in the glam. But behind the scenes? It’s sweat, sore feet, missed meals, tears, and pushing through self-doubt. We’re all showing up for something bigger than ourselves. And that’s what makes it so beautiful.

We’re shooting our arrival looks. Mine is styled by Afra World, with a beautiful outfit from Sole Affair—so grateful they believed in me and offered their support. I can’t wait to wear it. It’s stylish, powerful, and just the right mix of traditional Indian and modern.

Physically exhausting. Emotionally overwhelming. And yet, deeply fulfilling.
I’m here. I’m real. I’m growing.
This journey is going to test us all in every way, but it’s also everything I imagined—and more. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.