Never let a Miss Venezuela walk and a Miss India talk’.
The reason is simple: the Venezuelan lass is known to walk the ramp like a winner , while there is nobody to match the verbal skills of the Indian woman.
It is a global statement often heard at international beauty pageants.
Ushoshi Sen Gupta, the dusky Bengali model after winning the title of ‘I am She - Miss Universe India 2010’ a beauty pageant organised by former Miss Universe Sushmitha Sen, represented India in the Miss Universe 2010 contest which was held at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, USA.
Though the crown did not come to rest on her pretty head, she is euphoric about the whole outing.
Only, Ushoshi who has a penchant for mathematics and a degree in humanities, often fancies that the Q&A round could have turned the tide in her favour. “After much effort, not winning the pageant was disheartening.” she reminisces.
“In the 1990’s Miss Universe contests, the top 15 contestants were given the opportunity to come on stage for the question answer round. And smart answers would easily score them marks. But now you don’t get to figure in this round unless you are among the top five,” she adds.
Born in a typical Bengali family of engineers and doctors, how did she step into the world of fashion, one wonders? In 1994, her family was watching the Miss Universe contest which won Sushmitha Sen the title.
After winning, as she burst into tears of joy, Ushoshi saw her father becoming emotional at the scene.
She asked,“Why are you so happy for her? It looks as though I have won the title.” Her father replied, “I would be more than happy if my girl gets it someday.” Her father didn’t really mean it.
But it was a crucial moment for her.
Sushmitha was her all-time favourite among the divas and to give a try for the same title after years was her cherished dream, says Ushoshi.
And that is how, after two years of modelling, Ushoshi went ahead to walk national and international fashion ramps.
The model-turned beauty queen is now looking forward to a career in acting.
“Cinema has a lot to offer in India. For me acting is all about being in the industry and not particularly about films,” she says.
As the winner of ‘I am She-Miss Universe India’, she was awarded a scholarship for pursuing a diploma in acting at the New York Film Academy for which she would set off by the end of July 2012.
Very soon, she will make her debut in A Sajeed’s ‘Goodbye December’ and will also do a cameo in a Bollywood movie. She will be playing the role of a Bengali girl who gets married to a Malayali boy.
“For me Bengali and Malayalam movies are quite similar for their intense, realistic stories that sweep away hearts and awards,” she smiles.
This die-hard fan of superstar Mohanlal expressed her desire to work with him sometime down the lane. So how did she made her way into the Malayalam film industry? “One day I walk into the studios of MTV at Mumbai intending to be a part of the show Sajeed was directing,” she remembers.
Sajeed, a Malayali based in Mumbai, has been directing shows like MTV Super Select and MTV Bhakra. On meeting Ushoshi he decided to have her on board for ‘Goodbye December’ instead of the TV show.
“And that is a long story cut short,” beams Ushoshi.
About her outfits in the movie, she says, “I will be wearing stylised Indian clothes.” Christie Dcuhna who has worked for Bollywood biggies like Kareena Kapoor and Lara Dutta will be doing her makeover. The band Shillong Chamber Choir will be lending their voice for the very first time in a Malayalam film. Ushoshi is visiting Kerala for the second time, the first time she was the showstopper for Aruna Singh at the Kochi International Fashion Week.
“The food you get here is awesome especially the chicken thoran. I find the Malayali taste buds similar to that of Bengalis. As a lover of food, Kerala’s cuisine is homely, food away from home,”she says.