Sophiya Singh
Actor & Model
Actress and model Sophiya Singh will compete in the esteemed Miss Asia Pacific International contest as India’s representative. Singh, who is well-known for her parts in hit television serials, has advanced significantly since her early days competing in beauty pageants.
Singh took a short break from the entertainment business to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams, creating the Dubai Beauty School and her own staffing firm, SPS Sorayan. She is currently striking a balance between her business sense and her love of pageants as she gets ready for the Miss Asia Pacific pageant.
Sophiya is anticipating the competition, which will include more than 50 competitors from around the world, with both excitement and anxiety. She is motivated to perform to the best of her abilities and has adopted a strict preparation regimen that covers everything from ramp walk and posture to interview techniques.
From competing in beauty pageants to representing India at Miss Asia Pacific International, what has this journey taught you about resilience?
When it comes to beauty pageants, I have a very extensive history since, as everyone knows, trying to win Miss India is not easy! Man, there’s a lot of competition. Definitely one of the hardest pageants in which I have ever competed. Without a doubt, my charisma and confidence helped me win. You see, this is what motivated me to represent my nation in international pageants. Hell no, Miss Asia Pacific foreign is a pageant that attracts contestants from fifty different nations. Allow me to explain the role that foreign delegates play in this event.
You’ve balanced acting in popular shows and being a successful businesswoman. How do you manage to excel in both creative and entrepreneurial roles?
I knew at the age of eighteen that I wanted to become well-known in the Indian television industry. I was the winner of a Femina Miss India pageant when I was quite young. My desire to compete in these pageants has never faded; just take a look at where I am now. However, I began my modelling career in the city of Egypt! You could say that I was inundated with consignments from the media business, which I was receiving one after the other. For nearly a year, I was employed at Balaji Telefilms, working under the tutelage of none other than the legendary television personality Ekta R Kapoor.
When I was 18 years old, I knew I wanted to make a name for myself in the indian television fraternity. At a very young age I won one of the Femina Miss India pageants. My spirit for competing in these pageants never died — look at where am I today. But it was in the city of Egypt where my career of modelling happened! I was receiving back to back consignments from the media industry, you can say I was flooded with those. I worked for Balaji Telefilms for almost a year under the guidance of, as we all know, the television mogul Ekta R Kapoor. However, I had to change my course in life because, I tell you, beauty pageants were my true calling. That’s when my business acumen took over and I launched my own line. I own a makeup and beauty pageant-related institute where women can learn everything they need to know to prepare to be among the top contestants. Readers, it was not simple. I’ve been on this nine-year journey to establish myself in the pageant industry.
Your transition from reality shows like to the international pageant scene is remarkable. How do you think your experiences on reality TV helped shape the person you are today?
It was only because of that diaspora that I gained this confidence today and I was taken aback when I was asked to participate in one of the most talked-about reality shows in the nation. That’s where I turn to face the camera and get my glam look on point. However, I’ve always wanted to wear the Indian flag on my chest since it holds special meaning for me. Stopping my acting job to follow this passion of mine was a very hazardous decision! I might be one of the social actresses as well. For that, too, I’m prepared to go the political path.
In a competitive industry like modelling and acting, rejection can be frequent. How do you stay motivated during challenging times and what advice would you give to aspiring models?
Please, if you work in this field, be prepared for some very difficult tasks! This industry is where everything happens, including competitiveness, exposure, exploitation and cultural marker usage. Anything at all, indeed. Additionally, you can get unfavourable press for which you are not yet prepared. Or you can be the offspring of a controversy. The media is sometimes to blame.
You’ve mentioned your entrepreneurial journey alongside your acting career. Could you share how this business venture came about and how you manage to balance creativity with strategy?
Since physical attractiveness never fades, girls nowadays aim to enhance their perceived physical attractiveness. The pressure on women to adhere to the ideal of feminine beauty from an early age is increased by the influence of fairy tales, mass media and advertising in their lives. It is undeniable that there is a psychological relationship between self-confidence and beauty, with those who are deemed attractive typically having higher levels of confidence in their abilities. Every sector needs training! Additionally, there are individuals who lack the means to learn how to apply makeup, which is why I founded my institute for the needy. Makeup and styling are highly expensive in our field. For it, others are charging lakhs! I give impoverished girls free education and all of this at a very modest cost.
Miss Asia Pacific International places a strong focus on personal development and self-expression. How do you plan to showcase your individuality during the pageant?
My Indian culture is being represented in Miss Asia Pacific, an event that celebrates variety and beauty. It’s critical that I prevail. I’ll be travelling to other nations after I win, which will allow me to more fully represent my culture. My community is watching me to see how I will represent the nation. For me, it’s like competing in the Olympics; I truly feel like an athlete (she laughs). Just to have it on the record, I’m going for the gold. Although I won’t deny that I’m under pressure, I am really anxious!
Miss Asia Pacific International is a platform that often promotes social causes. If given the opportunity, what cause would you champion, and why?
Let me tell you, every pageant has a social cause. It’s beauty with intellect because of this! Since I’m naturally competitive, I’d like to support women against violence, one of the main concerns that is currently receiving a lot of attention worldwide! You are stupid if you think it’s only something the Indians do. You are deluding yourselves! This doesn’t come to an end. An average lady is raped every minute! Illegal surrogacy is a practice. Why? Wake up; this is a war situation as well.
The beauty industry is evolving with more emphasis on inclusivity and breaking stereotypes. How do you plan to use your platform to advocate for diversity in beauty?
Stereotypes are only dependent on how circumstances take place around us. We can benefit from social media! Many of the women I know are dealing with mental health and body image problems as a result of the beauty industry’s detrimental effects. Instead of attempting to “break” a stereotype, my goal is to “normalise” women’s empowerment, regardless of appearance. Why not other girls? I’m learning about diversity, after all.
As someone who is representing India on an international platform, what elements of Indian culture do you feel the world still needs to see and understand better?
We already live in the “incredible India.” I know a lot of foreigners who have given their lives to immerse themselves in our way of life! We are the only nation where different religions coexist.
Both Zeenat Aman and Dia Mirza have made India proud in this same pageant. How do their legacies inspire your approach and what do you hope to bring that’s uniquely yours?
Zeenat Aman’s acting career began in 1970, when she was 19 years old and won the Miss Asia Pacific International contest. Before Tara Forseca in 1973 and Dia Mirza in 2000 took home the coveted award, the actress was the first Indian to win it. She received the title of “First Princess” after placing second in the Femina Miss India competition. Zeenat then competed in and won the title of Miss Asia Pacific International in the Philippines. She became the main woman of Bollywood and ruled hearts ever since, setting a number of glitzy trends with her on-screen image. Subsequently, in 2000, Dia Mirza captured the esteemed Miss Asia Pacific International title, captivating admirers with her exquisite elegance and beauty. Dia Mirza won the coveted Miss Asia Pacific International title in 2000, captivating people’s hearts with her elegance and beauty. The actress opposed objectification at the time. During the international beauty pageant, Dia—who has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry—opted to defy convention by wearing a one-piece swimsuit rather than the traditional two-piece outfit. Thus, I will make sure that, following a 24-year hiatus, I reclaim the throne for our nation. India had its heyday in 2000! Our nation was crowned with three crowns.
The pageantry world has transformed over the years, with contestants now required to be more than just physically beautiful. How do you think intelligence, advocacy and influence factor into modern-day beauty competitions?
We can improve our communication, composure, confidence and public speaking skills by participating in pageants. We can also develop our ability to take criticism, pressure and competitiveness. We can talk about significant matters. If I succeed, people will look up to me as a role model because of my education, intelligence and social skills, which can change the world for the better. In addition, I’ll be speaking for myself! Everything has changed: organisers now take into account participants’ social and cultural awareness as well as their potential to alter the world for the better. Diversity in terms of age, race, body shape and gender identity has increased in pageants. Even though physical attractiveness is still a crucial factor in these events, these days they aim to consider more than simply beauty. The pageant industry and its ideals have previously come under fire. Modernists, for example, have called for the outright outlawing of beauty pageants on the grounds that they are outdated, sexist, ageist, and out of step with society’s changes. I didn’t always succeed, but I did a lot of self-improvement. Having to compete against other countries is one of the biggest challenges! My ultimate dream is to become a social warrior and die as the next Princess Diana or Angelina Jolie. I look up to them!
