Indian model Sonal Kukreja achieved distinction by securing a place among the top 12 contestants in Miss Supranational 2024. The beauty pageant, held in Nowy Sącz, Malopolkska, Poland, culminated late on Saturday, July 6. While Sonal confidently advanced to the top 12, she did not progress to the top 5 finalists, who included Chanelle de Lau from Curacao, Isadora Murta from Brazil, Justýna Zedníková from Czech Republic, Jenna Dykstra from the United States, and Harashta Haifa Zahra from Indonesia. This year, the crown was claimed by Indonesia, yet Sonal’s representation of India was marked by pride and distinction. In an interview with NDTV Sonal discussed her views on the requirements to become a beauty queen in India and her apprehensions about what to wear on stage at Miss Supranational 2024.
Sonal Kukreja discussed facing scrutiny based on her skin tone. She said, “That was a big phase of my life. I am still carrying it forward with me. The fact that I was so so insecure about how I looked. In India, there is a big colourism. A lot of people face that and I faced that because my sister is much lighter than my complexion..I would put my hand next to hers and be like, ‘Oh, yours is lighter. That means you are prettier, you are better.’” She also revealed how societal beauty standards influenced her decisions. Sonal mentioned that despite her love for basketball, she decided to quit the sport due to concerns about darkening her skin tone and acquiring scars. She also discussed how her fear of scars contributed to incidents like a recent dog bite on her face.
Sonal Kukreja won the title of LIVA Miss Diva Supranational 2023, earning the opportunity to represent India internationally. Reflecting on her journey, she mentioned filling out the form on a whim, without harboring any expectations. She said, “When this opportunity came my way of being a part of Miss India organisation or applying for Miss Diva…I closed my eyes and filled the 10-minute application. That’s what happened and did not even look further. It was literally almost as a joke in my head. I did not even tell my parents, my family, friends, nobody because a part of me was like, ‘It’s not going to happen. So let it be’ But when I heard that I got accepted and they announce in a certain way so they announced top 100, top 50, then comes the top 20 or 16 depending on the year.” Sonal only felt that something had “shifted” after receiving the final call. She added, “I did not even know that I was ready for it but I just went ahead.”
As per Sonal Kukreja, “To feel like a beauty queen you just have to tell yourself whatever stories you have, whatever weaknesses you have, you look at all of it and you tell yourself – ‘So what… can you move beyond that?’ That’s the first step… Because to feel like a beauty queen you have to first feel like, despite of everything that you don’t have, let’s look at what you have.” Sonal also mentioned that the most important thing is to “believe in your strengths.” Sonal also emphasized the importance to “believe in your strengths.”
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Sonal Kukreja highlighted that there are many factors that contribute to preparing for an international pageant. She said, “ There is a whole army of people that are preparing you for every single day…I have a walk training…I have communication training…I had a voice crafting specialists…I have had hair training…Makeup training…I have also had mentors help me in terms of life coaching so what I envision for myself for the country also being in this position. How do I want my views to be put out in a way that is a representation of India, not just Sonal Kukreja alone.” The model also emphasized how designers from across India assisted her in selecting the finest wardrobe for the runway.
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While Sonal successfully tackled her insecurities and prepared expertly for the global event with the help of her team of experts, one fear still lingered.
