Hyderabad – At just 21 years old, Nandini Gupta stands tall as a symbol of strength, courage, and change. Born in Kaithoon, a small village near Kota, Rajasthan, she has risen from humble beginnings to become Miss India World, now representing India on the global stage at Miss World.
Her story began with a dream sparked by a childhood moment. “When I was ten, I saw Aishwarya Rai on TV and asked who she was. My mom said, ‘She’s Miss World.’ That moment planted a dream in me,” Nandini recalls.
Growing up in a conservative village, Nandini faced a society where girls often weren’t encouraged to pursue education or careers. “In many homes, girls are still married early and kept behind veils. But my parents were different,” she says. Her father, a farmer, and mother, a homemaker, raised their daughters to be fearless. “People told them to try for a son. But my mother always said, ‘My daughters are worth ten sons.’ That belief shaped me.”
When Nandini told her father she wanted to compete in beauty pageants, he challenged her: “Score 95% in your 12th-grade exams, and I’ll support you.” She scored 92%—and earned his full backing.
At first, she struggled to speak in front of small groups. Today, she commands stages with confidence. “Pageantry changed me. It’s not just about looks. It’s about voice, courage, and presence,” she says. “I used to fear the stage. Now, I own it.”
Representing India at Miss World, held this year in Telangana, has been emotional for her. “When I held the Indian flag during the opening ceremony and heard people shouting ‘India, India,’ I cried. I wasn’t just Nandini—I was the voice of my country,” she shares.
At 19, Nandini was crowned Femina Miss India in Telangana. Now at 21, she returns to the same land, not just with a crown, but with a mission. “Telangana gave me more than a title. It gave me purpose,” she says.
She juggled her crown duties with academics, earning a degree in Business Management with a major in Finance from Mumbai University. “I didn’t have a typical college life. But I gained something greater. I gave TEDx talks, traveled across India, and learned lessons books can’t teach.”
Nandini also dreams of acting. “If I get the chance, I’d love to work in Bollywood or Telugu cinema, especially with Mahesh Babu,” she says with excitement. “I love his song ‘Kurchi Madathapetti.’” She also plans to start a lab-grown diamond business. “Diamonds last forever. I want to build something sustainable and meaningful, just like that.”
Beyond glamor, Nandini is driven by a deep sense of purpose. She launched Project EKTA, a nationwide initiative to empower people with disabilities. The inspiration came from her uncle, who has developmental challenges due to polio. “We never treated him differently, but society did. That hurt me,” she says.
Through Project EKTA, she has worked with eight NGOs and connected with over 3,000 individuals in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur. She’s danced with blind children, played cricket with deaf kids, and spent time with those with Down syndrome. “Disability isn’t the problem. Society’s mindset is. I want to change that.”
Her mission is clear. “I’m not here to just help—I’m here to uplift. If I fall, they’ll catch me. If they fall, I’ll lift them. It’s not my dream alone—it’s ours.”
Nandini is already inspiring a new generation. “Girls from small towns now tell me, ‘We want to be like you.’ That’s when I know I’m making a difference. This platform still crowns dreams.”
On the topic of women empowerment, she speaks with confidence: “Women are already powerful. We just need to believe it. The issue isn’t capability—it’s how we’re seen. Let’s shift from a man’s world to a human’s world.”
Her message to today’s youth is simple but powerful: “Live with purpose. Be kind. Be generous and accountable. Don’t just enjoy life—learn to give back.”
For Nandini Gupta, being Miss India isn’t the final goal. It’s just the beginning of a much bigger journey—one filled with hope, vision, and a mission to change the world.
