CHENNAI: Sahitya Jagannathan was almost convinced that she’d go globe trotting for two years just after school. “I thought college could wait,” she smiles. But fate had it that she’d get the best of both worlds. The 21-year-old journalism student and city model, who won the Miss Chennai title, is already travelling to Korea, as India’s sole representative at the World Miss University 2010 peace pageant to be held in Seoul, South Korea in a few days.
Two weeks into the preparation and the to-do list only seems to be growing at a monstrous rate for this Chennai girl. “I’ve been getting the costumes ready, reading up on current affairs and preparing for the talent round. I haven’t slept anytime before 3 or 4 am everyday,” says this perky model, who loves exploring the designer in herself whenever she can. But as far as this pageant is concerned, she chose to be in the spotlight and let ace designer Sidney Sladen don the designer’s hat.
“Sidney is doing my finale gowns.
One is a coral-yellow double shade gown; it’s flowy, asymmetrical and one shoulder. The other one’s a stunning blue colour gown with a beaded neckline and stone embellishments.
It has a thigh high slit on one leg and oh my god, it’s so pretty!” she beams, as she runs through her wardrobe for the big event. “I also need an Indian national costume for the finale. So, Vibha and I decided on this traditional lehenga-choli, inspired by the colours of the peacock,” she adds.
Vibha, the franchisee partner for World Miss University in India is responsible for sending Miss Chennai title holders for this international pageant every year. “If you win the Miss Chennai title, you eligible for the preliminary rounds of the World Miss University pageant.
And obviously, you need to be a student of a university,” says Sahitya excitedly.
The model is ready with a sensational twoand- a-half minute solo presentation for the talent round as well — a stunning confluence of Bharatanatyam, contemporary dance and yoga — put together by Geethan Britto and Sahitya herself. Sahitya is elated about the fact that she will get to see Korea for the first time. “I have been reading up about it and the Inko Centre has been quite helpful too,” says Sahitya, who is also looking forward to a pageant which is “not run-ofthe- mill and requires beauty and intellect in equal proportions.” And what will her parting lines on stage be? “Definitely not a teary-eyed appeal for world peace. No way!”