I’d like to believe that in the two weeks that I was inside, I conducted myself with dignity. And I wouldn’t be remembered as a contestant who create… - Sukirti Kandpal

I was busy settling my own life, so it was a welcome break for my family and me. Before that, I had been saying more no's than yes's to the people who approached me. A lot of people told me that I wasn’t doing the right thing, but I think that as I matured, I have become choosier about what I want.

It’s an honour to get a chance to represent my country on an international level. I will be wearing a sari in during the Indian round. Winning or losing the crown is immaterial for me as participating itself in such a coveted pageant is an achievement.

There is a certain confidence that a newsreader exudes while reading the stories in a staccato manner. Although my Hindi is good, I realised that the one they speak is chaste. I tried reading from the teleprompter at the set, but I felt that I need to polish my reading skills to make it sound as close to that of a newsreader's. Since then, I've been reading a lot of Hindi papers and watching news channels.