A GLASGOW mum has been given a prestigious award after competing in a UK-wide beauty pageant.

Pragya Sinha, 34, was awarded the Mrs Elegance title after a glamorous showing at the recent Mrs India UK competition in London.

With a settled family and a good job working with a senior job in banking, Pragya entered after seeing an advert for the competition in a newspaper, hoping it would offer her an alternative to the routine of her day-to-day business.

She was then selected at interview to be a main contestant in the showcase, travelling to England as part of the event.

Despite missing out on the top prize, the Newton Mearns resident has said the event has changed her outlook on life, and has given her the confidence to continue with work she started during the challenge.

Pragya added: “It has taken me out of my comfort zone and given me the opportunity to try new things and re-discover myself.

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“I have always been very fashionable, but once you are married and have kids we just ignore ourselves – lost in family responsibility.

“This platform helps you focus on yourself and overall personality does improve. But more than that your love for yourself increases.

“I had misconceptions about beauty pageants. I thought that all you had to do was look good but it is nothing like that.”

Now in its third year, the competition is for Indian married women residing in UK celebrating culture, heritage, values and womanhood.

A glitzy awards ceremony at the Hilton Tower Bridge in London marked the end of a hectic three-month journey for finalists.

After carrying out charity work, working on their own nutrition and collaborating with fashion designers from across the UK, the competition picked the best of the lot from nearly 30 women.

Pragya, in particular, worked with women who hd experienced domestic violence as part of her social initiative for the event.

Mrs India UK has also had quite the impact overseas, with newspapers and television stations from across India contacting Pragya and others.

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The Mrs Elegance winner added: “I am always attracted to fashion and I thought lets challenge myself to do something different.

“We had undergone training for over three months and most weekends. It is quite intense sessions including nutrition, fitness, catwalk, voice modulation, makeup, with different rounds to complete like photo shoots, talent shows, judges’ expectation and completing social initiatives.

“They looking for empowered woman who can inspire others, working for society and good at public speaking.

“They look beyond beauty it is more about looking after yourself. I want to tell other ladies about my journey so they can have this kind of experience.

“I was a confident person before, but it has taken me to another level.”

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