Lakshmi’s parents believe that she is a miracle because she came into their lives after a long wait. Lakshmi Menon, winner of 16th edition Miss South India 2018, too feels the same about her victory. It is a dream-come-true moment for the 23-year-old who has been dreaming of beauty pageants right from childhood. In her words, she is on top of the world. “I have always been fascinated by the crown, stage, light and ramp walk. More than that, I have heard that beauty pageants help us evolve and be a better person. I wanted to experience that,” says Lakshmi, a native of Kodungallur, Thrissur.
An engineering graduate, she put her dream on hold till she completed her studies. Miss South India is her second pageant. She was the first runner-up in the Miss Kerala Fitness and Fashion pageant 2017-18. Both the pageants provided her with different experiences. “In the Miss Kerala Fitness and Fashion event, there were 22 contestants and we all performed Zumba on stage. That was a power-packed performance. We also had a gym property round where we did basic exercises using gym equipment, like a performance,” she recalls. “In Miss South India, we had public speaking, international debate and all. ”
Lakshmi, who is also a dancer and television host, came to know about Miss South India through social media and friends. She sent application, got selected, went for the audition and the rest is history. “When I went there, I was really confident. But, later, I started losing it at certain points, but my fellow participants supported me. The total experience has been really good. I made a lot of friends,” she says. The various sessions groomed her personality and Lakshmi was happy about her performance on stage. “After the first round, everyone said that I looked good. I knew I did my best. I wasn’t worried about the results. I was amazed to see the huge crowd support for me though I didn’t know them personally. I was just happy that I could be a part of such an event.”
Deep down in her mind, she wanted to win the crown. “I desired to have it when I saw the image of the crown. I didn’t look at the first or second runner-up’s crown, my eyes were glued to the winner’s crown. Maybe that desire came true,” she smiles. ‘What is success?’ was one question the judges asked her, to which she replied success is a never-ending process. She believes that if her actions can influence people around her, she is successful as a person. That seems to be her motto in life. And she feels that the crown has made her more responsible.
“I want to inspire and influence people in a good way. I want to do justice to the crown,” says Lakshmi, an admirer of Manushi Chhillar, Miss world 2017. “I have been observing her since she became Miss Haryana. I like the way she carries herself and speaks her mind,” says Lakshmi, who wants to participate in a national beauty pageant.
