The onset of my preparation for Miss World was a challenging move altogether. I'm an engineering student, and I used to work in a software company before entering the world of pageants. Suddenly, I was introduced to a whole new world of passion and purpose.

There are so many different elements that come together when you're participating and training. It took me a while to understand and get used to the whole concept of speaking to a camera every day, interacting, acing photoshoots, learning how to fix my own hair, my makeup; there have been so many little learnings I picked up along the way, which was super challenging initially, but now, as I look back, it was all worth it. I feel more confident stepping into the competition after all those challenges and the hard work.

Also, competition aside, we also need to remind ourselves that Miss India, Miss World, is a celebration of what we as women can achieve. When you keep that in mind and let that inner desire in you learn and gain new experiences take over, you don't really look at the whole experience as a competition, where you're going against somebody; it is a place to celebrate how we can achieve things together.

It's that curiosity in me to just learn and meet new people and make new friends that keep me going.