This post was updated April 29 at 11:17 p.m.
“What is something that you would want your parents to know that they have trouble understanding?”
As Monica Pal, a third-year linguistics and computer science student, stood on stage to answer her winning question of the Miss India Global USA pageant, the room was silent.
“There is no right time to get married or stop school or have kids,” she said. “Everybody has their own life trajectory and to be able to respect that – it is hard for our parents who want nothing but the best for us.”
That evening, Pal was crowned Miss India Global USA, the victor of a pageant that honors young Indian women raised in America and encourages them to explore their Indian and American heritages. The competition included several rounds: a screening process, an interview, evening gown wear, Indian wear and a final crowning, she said.
Pal added that training for the pageant started a month in advance and included practicing walking on stage and learning how to respond to judges’ questions as well as selecting outfits, makeup and jewelry.
Pal said she represented her family’s heritage by wearing traditional clothes from the Indian state of Punjab during the Indian wear round. Pal, who has been doing pageantry for 12 years, said she hopes to use her title to uplift and empower women in her community.
“When I see women like Aishwarya Rai, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra, it begs the question of ‘Why not me?’” she said. “I want to then be that person for somebody else to look up to and say, ‘Why not me?’”
Kimi Verma, a former Mrs. India USA and the president of the Miss India Global USA pageant, said she believes her pageant teaches girls the invaluable skills of public speaking and confidence.
Neil Pal, a second-year linguistics and computer science student and Monica’s brother, said Monica also uses her platform to engage in community service activities. She organized wildfire relief efforts and COVID-19 donation drives to distribute personal protective equipment in their community, Neil added.
Currently, Monica works with Irvine Marine Battalion to provide them with donated supplies.
“We work to get them things like proper bedding, sheets, clothing, pillows, blankets, things like that, for our Marines and their families,” Neil said. “More than anything, we want to show that we have support for those really brave people in our community.”
Through her time competing in pageants, Monica said she has encountered a variety of misconceptions that people hold about pageantry, such as pageants being toxic environments for girls. However, she said her experience has always differed from these misconceptions.
Monica said she also intends to use her platform to push back on societal beauty standards placed on women. The Miss India Global USA pageant does not have height nor weight requirements.
“In our pageant, I’m very proud to say that everybody is welcome because women come in all shapes and sizes,” Verma said. “Because you have that societal standard, that does not make you a better woman.”
Ultimately, Monica’s desire to represent her Indian roots and set an example for girls in her community made her an exceptional candidate for Miss India Global USA, Verma added.
“I had worked really hard for this,” Monica said. “I really wanted it. And it was just pure excitement and just an honor to represent my community and be there for other Indian American girls.”
Comments are closed.