“The crown meant like a personal achievement to me, but today I see it as a responsibility,” reflects Nikita Porwal, newly crowned Femina Miss India World 2024, at the recent pageant in Mumbai. Nikita, who hails from Ujjain, recalls her lifelong ambition of winning the title. “Even though I had always envisioned myself doing this, it feels unreal. The dream to become Miss India began when I was seven years old. My mom used to dress me up as a pageant participant for fancy dress competitions, and I would be the winner every single time.”
A Responsibility to Inspire
Discussing her journey forward, Nikita is clear about the weight of her role. She will represent India at the 73rd Miss World pageant and views this as a chance to inspire. “I see it as a responsibility as I know millions of girls will be looking up to me as their empowered idol, like an ambassador representing them on the world stage,” she says. Emphasizing her commitment, Nikita adds, “I have to be true to myself, our country, and to the women of our country. I want to make India proud. The Femina Miss India journey taught me to be real. You can fake it for minutes and hours, but when you spend so much time with so many girls in a contest like this, then your real side comes out.”
A Role Model in Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Nikita admires actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has left a lasting impression on her with her elegance and intelligence. “I believe that Aishwarya is beauty with brains,” she shares. “Personality ho toh aisi ho ki log aapse baat karne mein do baar sochche. Woh bhale kitni bhi modern ho, par unke dil mein India basta hai,” she says, adding that she relates strongly to her Indian roots. As a resident of Ujjain, a city known for its rich spiritual culture, she feels deeply connected to her origins. “I come from the spiritual city of Ujjain, aur mera jo apne zameen se judaav aur mitti se lagaav hai, that has set me apart from the rest.”
The Influence of Ujjain and Love for Storytelling
Nikita has a background in theatre, having performed in more than 60 plays and written a 250-page play, Krishna Leela. Since moving to Mumbai last year, she has pursued modeling and even secured a lead role in a feature film. Her love for storytelling was rooted in her hometown. “My upbringing in Ujjain has shaped me a lot as a person,” she explains. Ujjain’s connection with mythology and its multitude of stories deeply influenced her. “Ujjain meinbohotsaarikahaniyahai aur mujhebachpan se kahaniyasunne aur sunane ka shauktha,” she adds, mentioning that she would finish reading all the stories in her textbooks before classes started for the new grade.
