The Farewell Photos
In early May, a couple of days before my flight to India for Miss World, I got all dolled to take my “farewell photos,” as is pageant tradition! Before any young woman goes to compete either locally or internationally, she takes a photo with her luggage and sash so friends and family can bid her good luck! And so, I bought brand-new white luggage solely for the aesthetic (yes, purely for photos), and paired it with a cute white eyelet dress. My mom and I took photos at the San Jose International Airport, much to the confusion of the passengers. We even drove up to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to capture shots by the iconic landmark, so the global audience would know exactly where I was leaving from while proudly representing the USA.
The real chaos came at the airport. I was checking in eight pieces of luggage (yes, eight!) Not the fancy white ones though, those got returned. I needed both my parents there to help, with my dad parking the car and us all struggling to wheel everything inside. After checking in all the luggage, I hugged my parents tightly, feeling the bittersweet mix of excitement and nerves as I prepared to begin this incredible journey.
The funny part? I posted my “farewell” photos on the day of my departure to Miss World, all dressed up and glamorous, when in reality I was in sweatpants, a hoodie, and zero makeup, about to endure 24 hours of flying. Your daily reminder that social media is not real life!
The Journey to India
The first leg of my journey was a 17-hour flight from San Francisco to Dubai. I considered myself incredibly lucky that nobody ended up sitting in the seats next to me, which meant I got to fully stretch out and take a long nap for several hours, a rare luxury on such a super long-haul flight! Once I landed in Dubai for my layover, it was go-time: cameras and press were waiting in India, so I had to start getting ready for the arrival. During that short layover, I transformed in the Emirates Lounge: doing my hair and makeup and changing from sweatpants into a stunning traditional Indian outfit. It was hilarious having the lounge attendants watch me go from total travel mode to full pageant glam, but I’m sure they have seen stranger things.
The final flight from Dubai to Hyderabad was only three hours, and when we arrived, the reception blew me away. A full welcoming committee of photographers, journalists, live musicians, and even a dance troupe awaited us, making the airport feel like a grand celebration. Other contestants from around the world were there too, and together we walked through the airport in our gowns and sashes, waving our country flags as local media and fans clapped and cheered for us. The energy was electric, and it was in that moment that I truly felt the magnitude of representing the United States on the Miss World stage.
