Smriti Irani on why she chose to participate in Miss India 1998: ‘I thought that if someone questioned me on stage…’

Before turning to politics, Smriti Irani was a well-known face on television for more than a decade — best known for essaying the role of Tulsi Virani in the daily show, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. But did you know that she was also a finalist in the 1998 Miss India contest? Sharing why she chose to participate in the beauty pageant, Irani said that she thought it was an opportunity to hone and showcase her oratory skills.

“I did enter Miss India contest because there was an opportunity to converse, to speak. It was not only about looking good, it was also about the presentation of the self. I thought that if someone questioned me on stage, I would respond with such a mind-blowing answer that I would fetch the crown. But I was wrong,” the Union Cabinet Minister Irani said in a conversation with Curly Tales’ Kamiya Jani.

According to Irani, who started as a model, back then one did not need to have good conversation skills or general knowledge to participate in Miss India. All that was needed was a “good face”, she admitted.

In many of her previous conversations, Irani has also spoken about her initial struggles, which included working at McDonald’s when it was newly opened in India.

Looking back at her journey, Irani shared that she has also been criticised for her “looks”. “I was also rejected a lot of times. A lot of people said, I look uncouth, others said I am dark-skinned. Some others said I look emaciated. If I was too thin, then it was a problem. If I am too fat, then that is also an issue. It depends on people’s mood on how they pick,” said Irani, who also undertook a few modelling campaigns after Miss India.

A little search also led us to her introductory video from the Miss India 1998 contest. “At 21, I stand at 5 feet 8 inches tall. I am pursuing training in literature and love adventure sports,” said Irani.

“As a collegium of culture, India is of great interest to me — the people who govern it. Therefore, it goes without saying that I am very interested in politics,” she was seen saying in the throwback video shared by The Universal Pageantry page on Facebook. 

The video also sees her sashaying down the Miss India ramp during one of the pre-rounds.

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