After the crown, the cause

Mona

We met her just a few days back as Anmol Sandhu Rai strutted in her high heels at the launch of her debut novel where she mentioned in the passing the impending international beauty pageant that she was due to appear. We see this lissom lady again on Friday noon, back in Chandigarh with her runners up crown of Mrs Earth and title of Mrs Earth Photogenic 2015!

A week in Jamaica has done Anmol good. She is glowing, looks way fitter and reflects a sense of well-being that we missed during our previous encounter. “May be, it’s just the glow from the win,” she laughs. Proud she is and happy and content too and merrily takes us through the experience that has helped her stride towards a fulfilling life. “You know what; one should never ever compromise on one’s dreams. You think I was a beauty pageant type,” asks this IT professional, “but I wanted to push the envelope.”

The experience that brought her face-to-face with contestants from twenty other countries had Anmol on toes. Being associated with Chandigarh Round Table and Handicapped Children & Women's Aid won her brownie points and this Queen of Substance (one of the titles at earlier pageants) is as much for external beauty as inner. She is still in awe of Mrs Israel. “Though I beat her in the competition, the very sense of calm that she exuded was worth emulating. She would say, ‘The crown we fighting for is precious but so are the crowns of sincerity, integrity, dignity, strength that we carry already’. I have learnt so much from being in the company of these incredible beautiful women.”

Another contestant that Anmol can’t get over is Mrs Guatemala. “She spoke Spanish, I used English and we often talked through interpreter but even without one we could perfectly communicate our wants, our fears and our dreams,” shares this Mrs Earth who is happy to be having friends in different corners of the world now.

Large share of the success, she credits to her husband Sukhman who accompanied her to Jamaica and played her friend, philosopher and guide. Post the win, lots of offers have come in the way, endorsements, films but Anmol is happy taking her time, “With Mrs Earth title I will be busy with raising awareness on environmental concerns and everything else can follow in the time to come!

Strictly yours

One thing that Anmol Sandhu Rai follows religiously is her fitness regimen. Workout for an hour a day is a must even when travelling. This fitness freak carries her exercise equipment in her travel bag and without any inhibition takes out her stretching cords and does her work-out even in a bustling airport lounge. Or she will find a corner and do the squats. “Nothing comes to you unless you strive for it wholeheartedly.” We take note, for this comes from a software professional cum writer cum actor and a wife and mum!

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