And the crown goes to...

And the crown goes to...

It has been 18 years since Tum Bin released but people still remember the chocolate boy Raqesh Bapat, who had a brief role in the film. The model-turned-actor, who will be hosting the second edition of PN Gadgil & Sons presents Sakal Beauty of Maharashtra 2019, alongside Neha Kelkar-Deshpande and MJ Tarun, says he is looking forward to it. The finale will take place today (Saturday) at Amanora — The Fern Hotels and Club, Hadapsar. 

MAY THE BEST PERSON WIN
The actor, who has been reading the daily Sakal since his childhood, says, “This is going to be a very special and personal experience. I am a Pune boy and something like this happening in my own city makes me feel so good. I love coming back to Pune and the pageant has given me an opportunity to host an event organised by Sakal.” 

Raqesh, who has worked in films like Dil Vil Pyar Vyar and Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai, has been a model himself and was the runner up in the 1999 Grasim Mr India Contest, and first runner-up at the Mr Intercontinental. This experience has given him an understanding of what the contestants go through during different rounds of the finale. He says, “As a host, I would try to ease them and encourage them with positivity.” 

When asked what advice would he give to the finalists, Raqesh says, “Put your best foot forward and may the best person win the crown. How you walk or speak is going to decide the course of your future. It is that one moment where you can see your entire life shaping up in front of your eyes. Hence being confident and thoughtful while walking the ramp or answering the questions in talent round is very, very important. I wish everyone all the best!” 

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
Priya Singh, the first runner-up of the first edition of Sakal Beauty of Maharashtra is excited about who would walk away with the crown this year. Singh, who can’t contain her happiness on seeing how Sakal is providing women with this platform again this year, is indebted to the pageant for the training that she received during her participation last year. 

“The five-day long training will help you in your personal and professional life. Lovell Prabhu Sir (talent groomer and image stylist), who trained us for the pageant taught us to look within ourselves, our minds and souls, and introspect. Prabhu sir’s session ‘Who am I?’ is extremely important to understand ourselves better.  Hence, the participants shouldn’t take these sessions lightly because these are going to help them in future too. The grooming tips on how to look, walking the ramp, etc come in handy. They boost your confidence,” says Singh. 

When she had participated in the first edition of the pageant, she was an amateur and had no knowledge of the business, but her participation and win helped her understand fashion and modeling industry better. 

Offering a piece of advice to the finalists, Singh says it is important for them to do justice to the garments they wear during the ramp walk. “As models and finalists, you must understand the outfits that you are wearing. In the traditional round, you need to smile and the smile should come from within. In the Western wear round, flash your attitude and sass,” advises Singh. 

“Strive hard and enjoy the journey. Learn as much as you can because whether you win the crown or not, the training and knowledge that you gain here are going to be useful for the rest of your life. This is an opportunity of a lifetime where the mentors and coaches, who are best in the industry are there to groom, help, guide and polish you. Where else would you get a chance like this?” Singh emphasises.

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