Strela Luwang seeks love and public support
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sonia Sorengshangbam

Imphal, March 05 2023: With Manipur all set to host the final leg of the Femina Miss India pageant, state's representative Thounaojam Strela Luwang is looking forward to give her best and bring home the Femina Miss India title despite facing financial constraints preparing for the pageant.

Born on June 5, 2001, Strela Luwang, d/o Thounaojam Ratan Luwangcha and Ashalata Chingsubam of Uripok Bachaspati Leikai is the sixth child of eight siblings.

She started her career in modelling from the age of 14 years with many ups and downs and finally got the opportunity to represent Manipur in the Femina Miss India pageant 2023 at the age of 22 .

In a tete-a-tete with The People's Chronicle, Strela Luwang revealed the various problems she faced and is still encountering while taking up modelling as a career and taking part in various beauty contests.

Before her departure for Mumbai on Sunday to take part in the Femina Miss India preliminary contest representing Manipur, Strela Luwang said that modelling as a career involves huge amount of investment and due to her financial problems, there were time she even thought of giving up the profession and taking up another.

However, she managed to cope with every problem.

"I am blessed that I am representing Manipur in the Femina Miss India pageant at such a young age.

However, I also feel troubled by the financial issues.

Since I haven't got enough money to buy expensive dresses to wear for the pageant like other participants, I have collected some second-hand clothes for use" .

She said, "apart from the financial issues, I also realised that taking part in the contest requires the love and support of the people through which I could gain confidence and help me achieve the goal I am longing for" .

Taking part in the pageant not only requires expenditures incurred in travelling and dresses, but also needs special pageantry training courses which cost not less than Rs 60,000, she said while adding that since she had no money, it was not possible for her to undergo the training course.

"As of now I have spent over Rs 3 lakh and have to spend more as I will be staying for a month in Mumbai for the pageant.

However, I will not lose hope but will continue to put in more effort and bring glory to the state".

Stating that she had been brought up as an independent child and had never depended on others, Strela Luwang also pointed out the need for sponsors to come up in support of contestants like her and encourage in every way possible.

Describing the benefits of taking part in such events, Strela Luwang stated that taking part in such contests help one to get exposure to the outside world.

One gets the opportunity to mingle with different people from different backgrounds and get to know about each other's culture and traditions.

Moreover, it is a platform where one gets to learn from experienced counterparts in the course of the event.

On being asked about her prospects in the Femina Miss India contest, she stated with confidence that she would come back home with the main title along with other sub-titles including "best cat-walk" .

It may be mentioned here that the grand finale of Femina Miss India contest will be held in Imphal where the winner will be selected from 30 contestants representing different states of the country .

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