By Emb Hashmi
Deana Uppal the winner of the Miss India UK pageant and former big Brother contestant has had a grueling and pain staking time after falling for the Miss India UK pageant.
She paid her £25 registration fee and participated in all the rounds, however this pageant was not what she had expected, it was far more sinister she describes organisers as using the pageants beautiful face to hide the true reality of the real aim which seemed to be material greed.
Asian World contact both Deana Uppal and the head of the organistion for Miss India UK/Global Mr M Saran who is based in New York. Mr Saran has not replied to our emails and refused to speak about Miss India UK over the phone, Deane however was happy to share her story with us.
Q. Why enter a pageant?
I believe a pageant is good for improving your confidence and also for teaching you skills that you need in life. If you truly believe you have talent you want to show to the world
Q. What encouraged you to enter Miss India UK pageant
Having the title of Miss India UK is a very prestigious title and when hearing the title I immediately decided I would like to try to gain the title. I believe I am a good role model as I have worked very hard from the age of 16 to achieve what I have done. I also feel the title would enable me to support charity causes more that I believe in and also I felt the title could further my career and add to my CV.
Q. How many hours in total did you spend preparing and performing at this pageant?
I spent many hours practicing my talent and also learning about various different subjects that I could be asked about.
Q. At what stage did you realise things where not as you may have thought?
On the night of Miss India UK the organisation was very bad and the venue was not decorated well. Throughout the year I had no support from any of the organisers and whatever work I did throughout the year was completely of my own back. The title held no recognition and did not benefit me in any way
Q. Did anyone from the Miss India UK team hint or say the model who gains most sponsorship will win the pageant?
no
Q. Why did you decide not to attend the finals on the 27th October?
Contestants of the competition this year where telling me that the national director was telling them to raise 2000 pounds sponsorship only 2 weeks prior to the contest, I felt this is very wrong as contestants should know all fees upfront at application stage. After taking into consideration everything I have seen from February I took a decision not to go to the finals as I did not want to put my name to something that I do not agree with. I run modeling workshops where I tell aspiring models how to avoid scams and how to get into the industry correctly so by putting my name to Miss India UK this year I felt like it was going against what I teach. I wish the winner of Miss India UK 2013 all the luck in the world and really hope by myself taking a stand will make a difference and things will now be better in the upcoming years
Deana Has decided to stay away from such pageants and hope her experience will help other such models to be wary and to do all their homework before stepping into the unknown.
