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She walks in glory

Miss India Universe 2005 Amrita Thapar talks about her world of glamour

PHOTO: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

BEAUTY QUEEN Amrita Thapar

The Miss India crown and celebrity status indeed changed her life radically but Amrita Thapar, Miss India Universe 2005, is as warm and spirited as before. "All this glamour and beauty is shortlived. The only thing that stays with a person is education and their contribution to society," says Amrita.

A fashion designer, Amrita plans to launch her designer label shortly. "Indian ethnic wear is a big craze abroad. The people there love wearing jootis and jhoomkas," she says. "I don't follow fashion blindly. I would not do something just because it is the in-thing. I follow my own style," she adds.

Amrita got her first recognition in a music video produced by Radhika Rao. "That was when I started receiving more modelling offers," she says. With that she made her mark in music and acting and then she became Miss India, Universe, 2005.

So hasn't the contest changed her life much? The journey has been eventful and exciting for her, but at the same time she misses her private space.

Tough work

Everyone thinks this is a glamorous profession. "But it's very difficult to survive here. Sometimes I get to sleep for only two hours in a day," she admits.

For the last one year she has been going through a strict regimen to get into the shape desired of a Miss India. "I had to avoid chocolates for six months and it's definitely not so cool to survive on just salads and fruits!" she exclaims.

While the crown gave her "a glamorous high" and fashion designing "a creative high", her active involvement in social work assures her "complete personal satisfaction." This 24-year-old also nurtures dreams to work for the society. She is actively involved in many social and welfare activities involving leukaemia, cancer and AIDS patients. Amrita's beauty secret is exercising whenever she can find the time. "I do yoga and martial arts regularly," she reveals.

After the social work and basking in the limelight of the beauty industry, the arc lights are waiting to be switched on.

NIVEDITA GANGULY

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