Sargam Koushal brought back the Mrs World crown to India after 21 years and hopes to use her win as a "catalyst" to inspire women and children to follow their dreams.
The Jammu-born model was announced the winner of the beauty pageant at a ceremony held in Las Vegas on December 17. She is the first Indian to win the title after model actor Aditi Govitrikar (2001).
Koushal succeeded US's Shaylyn Ford, who was crowned Mrs World 2021.
“I'm grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to be a medium and a catalyst of change. It is a way of empowering other women and kids around. This fame comes with a lot of responsibility,” Koushal told PTI in an interview here. The Mumbai-based model, who dons multiple hats of being a painter, a content writer and a teacher, said her father motivated her to start modelling.
“From the very beginning, my father never looked down upon modelling or pageantry. He thought it was beautiful... Whenever he used to see Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan or any other beauty queen, he would say 'I want my daughter to do something of that sort'."
Even though her father believed that Koushal would have a bright future in modelling, she wasn't confident about it. Things took a turn for the better post her marriage in 2018 to an Indian Navy officer. She discovered she had a knack for public speaking after hosting a social gathering for the service personnel and their families.
“With dad's persistence and my determination, it all just happened,” Koushal said, adding that she soon enrolled for the beauty pageant. She also hopes people from her native Jammu look at her win as a shining example of the region's potential. "I hope with this people of Jammu start realising that the youth have a lot of potential and can do much better if given the right platform,” she added.
Koushal said she will soon visit Jammu to meet her parents, extended family and friends. Going forward, she would continue to pursue modelling. “I enjoy being in front of the camera... I don't know about acting, but I would like to pursue modelling,” she said.
(PTI)
Kamal Haasan confirms Rajinikanth reunion after 46 years with cryptic biscuit remark at SIIMA Awards 2025 Instagram/ikamalhaasan 
Alavuddinum Athbutha Vilakkum poster IMDB 
Lokesh Kanagaraj directing the Rajnikanth-Kamal Haasan starrer heat up Instagram/\u00a0lokesh.kanagaraj 
‘Dabangg’ director Abhinav Kashyap says Salman Khan stopped caring about acting 25 years ago and calls him a goon Getty Images/ IMDB 
Abhinav Kashyap alleges Salman Khan has lost interest in acting for more than two decadesIMDB
Salman Khan, mother Salma, father Salim Khan, sister Arpita and Arbaaz Khan stand on the balcony on arrival at his house in Galaxy Apartment Getty Images
Abhinav Kashyap says Anurag warned him never to work with the Salman Khan Getty Images
Salman Khan silent as Abhinav Kashyap calls him a goon during a recent interviewGetty Images
Anuparna Roy becomes first Indian to win Best Director at Venice Film Festival 2025 Getty Images 
Anuparna Roy dedicates her Venice win to women worldwide while speaking about Palestine on stageGetty Images
Anuparna Roy accepts her award in a white saree, thanking her cast and crew for believing in her storyGetty Images
Rick Davies, British rock legend of Supertramp, dies at 81 Getty Images 
John Helliwell, Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson, Bob Siebenberg and Dougie ThomsonGetty Images 
Rick Davies, Supertramp’s guiding force, dies at 81Getty Images 