Miss Universe: 'I don't know about beautiful'<\/p>\n
By Mehru Jaffer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Lara Dutta, the reigning Miss Universe and
\nsecond Indian to win the title, had no idea as to how similar the
\ntwo cultures of Indonesia and India really are.<\/p>\n
She found that out just a few days ago when she visited the
\nIndonesian consulate in New York to get a visa. She saw paintings
\nof episodes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana there and
\nwondered to herself, "Don't those look familiar?" Lara, who comes
\nacross as a deadly combination of beauty and brains, spoke to The
\nJakarta Post over a quick lunch of gulai kambing (Indonesian lamb
\ncurry) and naan (Indian bread).<\/p>\n
And once she got to know a little more about the historic ties
\nshared by both countries she was even more impatient to get here.
\nWhen she finally arrived in Jakarta last Tuesday on the shoulders
\nof the Maharajah, the mascot of Air India, she was surprised to
\nsee what a cosmopolitan city Jakarta is.<\/p>\n
Downtown Jakarta with its imposing skyscrapers remind her of
\nNew York.<\/p>\n
"It did not take very long for me to feel completely at home
\nhere." Lara had expected Jakarta to be a lot more traditional in
\nappearance. At Taman Sari, the Royal Heritage Spa of her host,
\nMustika Ratu, where she asked for a traditional massage with
\ncitrus oil, she concluded that this is a place where traditions
\nand modernity seem to coexist in perfect harmony.<\/p>\n
She has a tight schedule here, from attending fashion shows,
\ngala dinners and the finale of the Miss Indonesia contest, to
\ntouring a garment factory and chatting online through a local
\nportal.<\/p>\n
Lara will also travel to Yogyakarta and will be a personal
\nguest of the governor of Bali before she returns to New York to
\nfulfill her duties as Miss Universe.<\/p>\n
Lara won the coveted crown for her presence and poise as much
\nas for her beauty after she convinced the grand jury with her
\neloquence that she did represent the women of the new millennium.
\nShe said pageants like Miss Universe give young women a platform
\nto voice choices and opinions and it makes them strong and
\nindependent.<\/p>\n
Named after the lead character played on the screen by Julie
\nChristie in the film Dr. Zhivago, the economics student at Mumbai
\nUniversity comes from a family that seems to have made living in
\nthe clouds a happy pastime. Both her father and one sister are
\npilots and Lara loves paragliding, is fond of bungee-jumping and
\nonce wanted to be an astronomer.<\/p>\n
For some reason she seems to have thrown all her other
\nambitions to the wind for the moment and has settled down to be a
\nstar.<\/p>\n
She does not rule out the possibility of acting in films but
\ntwo years from now she would like to get her masters in media
\nmarketing. Her long-term career plans include making documentary
\nfilms along the lines of the History Channel.<\/p>\n
Lara, who has a sophistication far beyond her 22 years,
\nanswered questions on a wide range of topics from religion,
\nresponsibilities that come with the crown of Miss Universe to
\nrevealing only a little bit about Kelly Dorji, her boyfriend from
\nBhutan who is just as gorgeous as Miss Universe herself.
\nBut before she could think of leaving some words of inspiration
\nfor all those billions of struggling women who are not lucky
\nenough to be exposed to opportunities as she is, she was whisked
\naway by her coterie of escorts to visit a rehabilitation center
\nfor women drug addicts.<\/p>\n
Excerpts from the interview:<\/p>\n
Question: Do you really think that you are the most beautiful
\nwoman in the Universe?<\/p>\n
I don't know about beautiful. At the contest there were 79
\ngirls and everyone was beautiful, everybody was intelligent. It
\nis no longer being beautiful in that sense of the word. It is
\nalso about being able to identify with people from different
\nwalks of life from infants to the elderly, and about being the
\nbest possible representative of this universe of ours with all
\nits beauty and diversity.<\/p>\n
Here you are a Hindu, a guest in the largest Muslim country in
\nthe world. What do you have to say about Hindu-Muslim animosity
\nin India and Muslim-Christian animosity here?<\/p>\n
I have only one thing to say about animosity of any sort.
\nThere may be lines and boundaries drawn on the ground separating
\none country from another but we do not have to have them in our
\nhead. I wish people would realize how important it is to rub away
\nor erase the differences we have drawn mentally.<\/p>\n
How does this benefit human beings?<\/p>\n
Then we can embrace everyone and see through people beyond the
\nreligion they practice, the food they eat or the way they might
\nsmell. We have to deal with each other as human beings by
\ndropping our ego. The only thing that separates us from each
\nother really is our ego and not national boundaries or our
\nreligion.<\/p>\n
What do you have to say to those in this country who express
\nconcern and opposition to women participating in beauty pageants,
\nespecially in a swimsuit?<\/p>\n
Gone are the days when beauty pageants concentrated just on
\nthe body and a pretty face. The briefing that the judges give at
\nthe Miss Universe is to look for someone intelligent, yes, but
\nalso someone with the intelligence to realize the amount of
\nresponsibility bestowed upon the winner for a whole year.<\/p>\n
It is not just about getting up and putting on makeup and
\nlooking pretty. I have to meet with all kinds of people who want
\nto know all kinds of things from me, especially the media, and I
\nbetter know what I am saying to my audience.<\/p>\n
To be able to bear this title with a responsibility is what is
\nmore important today. To a certain degree the pageant still
\nconcentrates on the physical but it is more on the fitness level
\nof the contestant. I think this is important realizing the work
\nthat I have done in the last three weeks. I would not have coped
\nor looked presentable if I was not physically fit.<\/p>\n
But what about the swimsuit?<\/p>\n
Whether it is walking down in a swimsuit or a traditional
\ndress is personal.<\/p>\n
Every person has to make that choice individually. Coming from
\na democratic country like India where freedom of action and
\nexpression is a birthright of every citizen, I would leave it up
\nto the woman concerned. If she is confident and comfortable with
\nherself in a swimsuit I don't think anybody has the right to put
\nher down for it.<\/p>\n
What do you have to say to the restriction in this country
\nagainst Miss Indonesia participating in the Miss Universe
\npageant?<\/p>\n
I wish I could say that Miss Universe does give one lucky
\nwoman the opportunity of a lifetime during that one year when she
\ncan achieve a lot for herself, her country and this universe. So
\nif an Indonesian girl can go out there and grab that opportunity
\nshe should do it.<\/p>\n
As an Indian what do Asian values mean to you?<\/p>\n
It is feeling close to people, to one's family and community.
\nThere are some ills that are also a part of Indian tradition,
\nlike child marriages and dowry deaths, but things are fortunately
\nchanging. The most wonderful aspect of Asian values is the bond
\nbetween people. I cherish that very much. In the West too many
\npeople are on their own, independent and successful, yes, but
\nalone, lonely.<\/p>\n
Why do you think so many Indian women win the Miss Universe
\nand Miss World titles?<\/p>\n
The organization at home of Miss India is very supportive and
\ntrains us thoroughly for the international contest. The emphasis
\nfrom the beginning is on intelligence more than looks and all
\nthose girls who have made it are very well-spoken and women of
\ntoday in the true sense of the word, who are able to put their
\nideas across to the whole universe.<\/p>\n
You have spoken with such love and affection about your dad in
\npast interviews. What role does your mother play in your life?<\/p>\n
More than 200 percent. I am what I am because of my mother.<\/p>\n
What do you expect most out of this trip to Indonesia?<\/p>\n
I am very excited about traveling within the country ... going
\nto Bali. It is just incredible being here. There is such
\ngraciousness everywhere and if I am able to take back with me
\neven a little bit of this culture and knowledge from all the
\npeople I am meeting and the places I am visiting, it would be a
\nprivilege.<\/p>\n
Do you have a message for the women of this country?<\/p>\n
Dream your dreams and just go out there and get whatever it is
\nthat you are looking for. It is important to make your choices.<\/p>\n
Has there been any reaction from actress Julie Christie who
\nplays Lara in Dr. Zhivago or Omar Sharief on your victory?<\/p>\n
(Laughs) I don't think so. Not yet, anyway.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/miss-universe-i-dont-know-about-beautiful-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }