The Navy Queen Pageant in Kochi
KOCHI: Amidst a lot of excitement and a handful of sizzling dance performances, the Navy Queen Pageant concluded on Saturday evening at the Naval Base. All the contestants put up a good show in the different rounds which tested their confidence, beauty as well as brains.
Kochiite Elizabeth Thadikaran emerged as the winner while Neetu Ratnakumar and Euphie Paul were adjudged the year’s first and second runners-up respectively.
“Be confident and you have already won, even before the pageant starts. And believe in what you say, only then will people listen to you,” is what Navy Queen Elizabeth Thadikkaran, winner of the Navy Queen Pageant 2010 believes should be the success mantra for any aspiring beauty queen or model.
The youngest of the three daughters of businessman Charley Thadikaran and Rani, a teacher, Elizabeth is doing her first year dentistry in Bangalore, after her schooling at Choice. “This is the first time I’m entering the final round of such a contest, let alone win it,” she gushes excitedly. “I couldn’t sleep till 3 am last night because of excitement and still can’t believe I won.”
Elizabeth feels that it was her sisters’ encouragement and motivation which made her enter the contest. “I’m going to give the return tickets from London to my sister as a gift,” she says.
The tickets are part of the prize she won, besides the Rs 80,000 worth of jewellery from TBZ and Rs 50,000 cash prize, among other vouchers and gifts. The answer which won her the crown at the end was this - Given a choice between a Navy person and an MNC professional, who would she prefer to marry?
Elizabeth answered that she preferred the Navy person, as they are courageous and ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. But it was the second part of her answer which won her applause, that they also looked good in their white and white uniforms. Elizabeth won the Miss Beautiful Eyes and Miss Beautiful Skin before walking away with the coveted title.
The 19-year-old is no fitness freak but an outdoor person, a sports freak and an avid swimmer. “I guess it’s my swimming routine which keeps me fit and healthy, I’m a good eater and often eat more than I need,” she admits.
Elizabeth was also into public speaking and dancing while at school. She plans to complete her studies first before thinking of anything else. “And I will definitely work for a few years. In the mean time, I might do modelling part-time.”