Professor scoops hat-trick of beauty queen titles
A mum who spent 10 years studying to become a professor says she has 'a new respect for Kate Moss' - as the toughest moment in her career was learning to walk in high heels. Motivational speaker Professor Dr Parin Somani usually splits her time between teaching, academic research, and writing books in London with humanitarian trips to India, particularly helping young people.
So when Dr Somani was invited to take part in a beauty queen contest instead of just speaking at it, she decided to give it a go believing it would be easier than years spent with her nose in books in academia. But the 55-year-old, who completed her studies in leadership management in Keisie International University in Dallas, Texas, was stunned when she discovered it was not a walk in the park.
She spent weeks tottering around in four-inch heels in a desperate bid to perfect her best model-worthy catwalk strut. Dr Somani, founder and CEO of the London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD), admitted mastering the skill was a 'totally different ballgame' to anything she'd done previously.
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But her grit and determination paid off as she scooped three beauty queen titles of Mrs India and Mrs Brit Asian in 2021 and Mrs Enigma World in 2022 - proving she's both brains and beauty. Despite being offered lucrative Bollywood movie deals off the back of her wins, Dr Somani turned them down instead choosing to dedicate her time to helping more people with her humanitarian work.
Dr Somani, from Barnet, North London, said: "I had to learn how to walk like a model in 3.5-inch heels. It was a completely different ballgame learning the walk compared to academic work. I couldn't walk, it took me several weeks to learn how to perfect it.
"I had to practise a lot, it's hard work. People are cheering and clapping but they don't know how much hard work has gone into it behind the scenes. I have a new respect for catwalk models like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss who make it look effortless."
The mum-of-three was initially going to just speak at the beauty contest, but says organisers encouraged her to hit the main stage as the ultimate way to motivate others.
Dr Somani said: "I work as a motivational speaker and a humanitarian. Initially my journey started as just speaking at Mrs Queen of India and Mrs India but they asked me to take part to inspire the girls.
"When asked to join as a beauty contestant as a role model for other participants I was unsure how practical it would be but the lady said 'I'll teach you everything. It'll really help our other girls'.
"Taking part in beauty contests is inspiring people in a different way, to see me as a success in motion. It's not just looking at the beauty of the woman, but the beauty of the brain too and how you've helped society. It shows you can have brains and beauty."
The three-time TEDx speaker, who founded London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD) online digital platform providing skills-building and self-improvement courses, said there was an unexpected outcome from her success on stage.
Off the back of her wins Dr Somani said she was offered lucrative Bollywood movie deals but shunned them to further pursue a humanitarian career inspired by Mother Teresa.
Dr Somani said: "After winning the competitions I was offered the main roles in Bollywood movies with big stars including Rajinikanth, who is considered 'the God of the South' and many others.
"It was very flattering but I didn't want to become a movie star, my main ambition was to be a Mother Teresa figure and do humanitarian work and make a global change.
"I said to the director 'thanks so much for offering it to me but I don't think I'm a suitable candidate'. When he asked 'why?' I said I wanted to help society with humanitarian work."
The beauty queen winner, who cites Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi as her inspirations, said she wants to help as many people as she can. Dr Somani, who also studied Media Communication at Universal Press Media Education Vidyapith affiliated with shine international university in India, said: "I'm connected to hundreds of universities around the world.
"In my philanthropic work I coach the under-privileged, help people to become empowered and also do youth development work. I also help set up businesses, help with education and provide a helping hand in the UK to young people and seniors.
"I want to continue the legacy of Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi and Aga Khan - they're my role models. My aim is to help humanity until my last breath."
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