Vartika Singh has a certain dreamy quality about her. Candid and cool, t2 recently caught up with the Lucknow girl, based in Mumbai now, whose “best friend is from Calcutta”, where she spoke about her journey as a model, the Miss Universe pageant where she was a contestant in 2019 and more. Excerpts.

How has your journey as a model been?

It’s not like I ever thought I’d become a model, to be honest. Sometimes destiny has certain things planned for you and you just take a very random step. It puts you in a place where it unfolds in a very different way and that’s what happened to me. I remember I was doing my Masters in public health and as an intern, I had already got my first placement in a World Bank project. There were people who would tell me that I should model. I come from a traditional family and it was not something that I could tell my parents and they would be okay with.

One time, Miss India was auditioning in Lucknow and I was in the first year of my placement. I randomly applied for it online and I got through and went for the auditions without telling my parents. I never thought they would select me because I had zero confidence (laughs). Somehow everything came together, I have no idea how, but like they say, when life has plans for you, all you have to do is just keep taking steps and blindly follow what you are doing. That brought me to Bombay and I went for Miss Universe in 2019. Modelling started with it. It’s been quite a fun journey for me. My dad tells people his daughter is a ‘Miss India’ (laughs).

Do you see a change in yourself, pre and post, taking part in these pageants?

Of course. When I just moved to Bombay, at 21, I had a lot of dreams, which I still have and I keep pushing myself to do more and more. Now, I feel content with how I look. Earlier I would get fascinated by other people and seek that I wish I had that. Now, I am sort of secure within myself.

The fast-paced life of Bombay was challenging, but at the same time, it was new to me. When you are starting, you are soaking it in and I enjoyed it without feeling it’s happening too fast. But it took me a long time to adjust my taste buds (laughs). But, now, Bombay is home, I love it and it’s the best city one can be in.

In an industry like this which is absolutely cut-throat and you meet a lot of people and your exposure is very high, because of that, it either makes you or breaks you. I have utilised whatever journey I have had in the best possible way, by identifying what my strengths are and how I can take them forward.

What are your strengths?

As a human being, I am a very content person. It reflects in my personality. When I meet people, they say, you come across as somebody who is well-trained, well-travelled and who knows what she wants. I don’t want to come across as a confused person who is not sure what she is. Having clarity is sort of my strength. I am somebody who is very focused and disciplined. If I decide to do something, I will be at it.

What did you leave Miss Universe with?

In my year, the winner (Zozibini Tunzi) was from South Africa. There were very beautiful girls, very well-spoken. A lot of people have this perception that when you are in a pageant, girls are going to have catfights and they are there to just pull down each other, but that’s not how it is. People have a very wrong perception of women. We want to help other people grow. I have seen the celebration of womanhood in Miss Universe. People think if you are beautiful, people will make you Miss Universe. That’s not how it works. It’s all about what you are bringing to the table and what kind of beauty they want to celebrate. Everything is beautiful. There is no parameter of beauty and that’s what I understood there. It’s about what kind of conviction you have about yourself and what kind of thought processes you are bringing to the table. It gave me so much assurance about being a woman who is self-made.

What makes women similar or alike to each other?

I have travelled so much and met all kinds of women. I have met women who want to work a lot in their lives, be independent, and self-sufficient. What connects us all is that they have this fire to have an identity. For so many years, we as women have been deprived and considered as a burden. So, whoever I have met, there is a strong urge to be who they are and everybody is fighting for a place for themselves and they are being able to achieve their goals. There is so much dedication and passion. The passion to move forward is what I have seen common in all the women I have met around me. Women are way smarter than any species on this planet. They know everything. There is one maternal instinct, they are caring and they can manage work efficiently. It’s a 360-degree combination.

It’s intuition...

You are very right. The instinct is so strong.

What have been the milestone campaigns in your career?

I would look at newspaper ads and think if the girls were for real (laughs). It was a far-fetched dream for me to be that girl. Cut to shooting for Pond’s or Vaseline or a Tanishq or a Sabyasachi or Tarun Tahiliani. Everything started happening one after another. I was like, wow, what is this manifestation that I had back then. I believe in manifestations and every time I have sought something, it has come to me. All the boxes are ticked.

Who are your role models and style icons?

When I was starting out, Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid were getting popular. Their journey inspired me so much. I think, as a model, when you are working, a lot of people just restrict you to being one poker-faced person who doesn’t know so much about life. But, it’s not just that. Behind that pretty face, there is an enterprising mind, a traveller, a reader....

What are the most beautiful things in your life?

I am blessed with a happy and beautiful family. That’s topmost. Then, this career that happened to me. It’s a beautiful and magical thing when you work becomes your passion. I like what I do and that is one of the most beautiful things that can happen.

You love the organic way of life...

My dad is an agronomist. Herbs have been part of our lives since I was a kid. So, it was a natural progression to a conscious living. That’s what I was introduced to as a kid. I want to explore organic farming, work on superfoods and a fabric that is easy on you and sustainable. I am passionate about organic farming.

Do you love travelling?

I do and I am a mountain girl. When I travel, I usually walk without maps. Solo travelling makes you feel more confident and you discover so many things that you otherwise might not focus on.