First Runner-Up: Reflections From My First Miss Universe Organization Pageant - Miss WA USA 2018

Reflecting back on such an important moment in my life. Thank you to all those who surrounded me in love, support, and success - then and always:

What an experience. For every one of you who offered a vote, well wishes, or a prayer, thank you. I competed alongside 41 other phenomenal women in Interview, Swimsuit, Evening Gown, and Swimsuit and Evening Gown again after making Top 15, and then Onstage Question after making Top 5. As a short, brown girl, I’ve spent quite some time reflecting on being named FIRST RUNNER-UP at Miss WA USA - receiving a $12,000 scholarship to Lindenfield University, a $2,000 scholarship to beauty school, and a decorative award. I saw my network emerge in incredible ways both before and after the Miss WA USA competition. Prior to the state competition, I was able to participate in a number of appearances with my local title - Miss Maple Valley USA - volunteering to serve veterans, homeless families, and the American Cancer Society. Two days before Interview, a man walked up to me and my friend while we were at lunch, said he felt compelled to introduce himself to me, and gave me his number (business card). My friend and I stood there dumbfounded, and she asked if these things happen to me. He gave me a confidence I am so grateful for, and I walked into the competition floating on Cloud 9. A stranger who hadn’t said two words to me saw something in me. Maybe the judges would too. 

At the competition itself, I am proud that my answer silenced the 800-seat auditorium into awe. I am grateful to the multitudes of strangers who came up to me and urged me to run for Congress, or anything, because they wanted the chance to vote for me. Thank you to the publicist for elected officials who gave me her contact information and told me to give her a call when I’m ready to serve. I am so grateful to my fellow contestants who cheered me on when it came down to the final two. To the audience for respecting me as much as they did the woman who took the crown. To those who sent the endless barrage of texts, FB messages, calls, etc. of congratulations. You really made me feel like a winner.

And while I was the only Indian woman competing in the Miss division, I did see Black, Asian, and Latina women and women with disabilities compete alongside me. To these women, in particular: While this is my first time competing in the Miss USA system, I’ve also competed in a few other pageants, and I️ KNOW it’s so easy to be disheartened when you don’t see yourself reflected in the judging panel, but look how far we’ve come! We had two people of diversity in the Top 5. Our diversity should be celebrated ESPECIALLY when we don’t see someone who looks like us on the other side of that table. Judging may be subjective, but the more we come out and compete, the more the world will understand that the standard of beauty they are familiar with is not beauty at all. It’s a preference. Every woman, of all colors and races, deserves to be “confidently beautiful” inside and out. And I know, I, and my fellow contestants felt nothing short of confidently beautiful after participating in this pageant. I cannot thank Maureen, David, and Marind enough for such an incredible experience.

I had never imagined placing in the Top 5, let alone being First Runner-Up. I was doing it to better myself and for the chance to meet new people and and new opportunities. After the pageant, having been close, I pondered if I should bother to keep going. And the following experiences made me reconsider. I walked in a fashion show later that week and met some new and familiar Ravishing women (Miss India WA pageant). Everyone was so unbelievably congratulatory which confused me because I did not win. One woman then told me: “For us, for our people, you know, First Runner-Up is a big accomplishment.” Another Indian woman approached me during a fashion show and said that she had turned down an invitation to compete in a pageant because she didn’t feel that she fit the “model” type. She’s only 5’3”. She told me - “because of you only” - she changed her mind and headed to New York earlier this month to compete in this pageant because if I can become First Runner-Up in a major pageant at 5’1”, she has a shot too. And she CRUSHED it - congratulations, Dishika! 

And the day after the pageant, I woke up to this note in my work inbox: “Just watched a short recap of last nights crowning and girl- let me tell you. You ARE stunning!!! Inside and out. To say that I’m incredibly proud that we get to work together is a gross understatement. It is such an incredible accomplishment to be young, fierce, kind, and gorgeous— and to represent women in business, sales, technology with such grace and perseverance. Crown or no crown, you’re royalty in my book. Congratulations - on being such a fantastic human. You’re awesome!!” Morgan is someone I have admired for some time. Prior to this, I had never really received an opportunity to speak at-length with her. Her reputation and overall badass-ness (she’s a mom, incredibly successful at Amazon, and a captain in the military!) is well-known though. She insisted on treating me to coffee to celebrate me and, afterwards, told me how grateful she was to have spent an hour with the Miss WA USA Runner-Up and that she loves seeing me, a woman who “adheres to her Amazon values,” go and do something like this and then be within striking distance of the crown. We discussed so much including equal pay for women. She had tears in her eyes as she told me that I inspire her. I was touched beyond words, and we were both crying. She is a gorgeous white woman, but she told me she’d talked herself out of doing things like this because she thinks she’s too short and doesn’t fit the traditional standard of beauty - even though her fierce interest in participating lies in furthering her platform and serving others. After our conversation, she’s now considering doing a pageant as well, and I could not be more thrilled. To anyone who feels like you shouldn’t try because of your shortcomings (pun intended in our case), nothing will change if we don’t change it. We are close.
There are several reasons I started competing in pageants at the start of this year that I may reveal in time, including becoming the best version of myself, but for now, I do this for every short woman and for every woman with that natural tan who’s ever dreamed of looking glamorous, giving back, and being recognized for the queen she is. If anyone has questions about participating in “pageantry” (yes, it’s a thing), feel free to message me. “True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.” - Audrey Hepburn 

And congratulations to Abigail! You were awesome. I wish you an incredible year of service and look forward to rooting for you at Miss USA! 

I have a number of people I need to thank for various reasons - from second, third, and twelfth opinions, making signs for my supporters, to hair and make-up, to helping me practice my walk in the locker room at Amazon, to just showing up: Nasim, Seeba, Gary, Laurel, Demetra, Menka, Meenal, Astha, @Marjorie, Rimjhim, Shree, Geneva, Kalina, Gabby, Dave, Kenneth, and Appa.

PC 📷: Jerry and Lois Photography
Thanks to the following companies and people for sponsoring @PageantsNW, @fiftyfiftybottles, @bridalelegance, @morganandpresleydental, @itcosmetics, @realaustinryde, @linenwooduniversity, @astaraskincare, @leapfoundation, @makeupbyjudywright, @purebeautyco, @loveshibue_offiical, @elitetrainingusa, @dalioraesthetics