Pageantry, Purpose, and Perseverance: My Journey to the USOA Miss New Jersey Title

I was standing up on the stage, legs shaking, my custom blue beaded dress now sticking to my body under the heat of the spotlight. We were the final two. I clasped my pageant sister's hand, waiting with bated breath to know which one of us would walk away with the crown. Not long after, I heard the reigning United States of America Mrs. announce my competitor as the first runner-up. That means I had won. I stood there, mouth agape, as guests and contestants both cheered around me. I felt my predecessor gently place the glimmering crown on my head. I moved my hands to steady it, finally letting the weight of the feeling set in — I was the new USOA Miss New Jersey. My dream had come true.

Pageantry is something I always wanted to pursue. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved the glittering dresses, one-of-a-kind crowns, and the beauty that graced the stage. My mom and I used to watch Miss World and Miss Universe when I was younger, hoping that one day I’d be able to stand up tall on that stage and represent my country. Those dreams shattered when I had to give up my one and only chance at Miss India to head to college. I packed my life in two large bags and left the country I'd so long called home to embark on a new adventure — pursuing my journalism degree at NYU.

Years passed as I fulfilled my career goals, thinking back to the moment I was scouted for Miss India and constantly wondering, what if? I was worried it was too late — that my dream would always just be that, a dream. Then, in 2024, a glimmer of hope: the Miss USA pageant had finally removed its age barrier, which meant women of all ages, not just those under 28, could now compete for both the state and national pageants. As a woman who was already in her late 20s and finally on the cusp of getting her citizenship, this new rule gave me hope.

Then, in 2025, just one day (yes, really) after getting my United States citizenship, I signed up for the Miss New Jersey pageant. I had no training, I was completely out of shape, and the last time I had stepped on a runway was in 2018. I was woefully unprepared to go up against 110 of the most beautiful and talented girls I’d ever met. Still, I tried, taking pride in the fact that I had finally, after years of waiting, made it onto a pageant stage. Though I didn’t place, I walked away with a wealth of experience and new memories from girls I now call my sisters.

It was inspiring to see mothers, daughters, women entering retirement, and women in their 30s all compete on the same stage. It was a memory I knew I would cherish forever. I left with hopes to one day compete at Miss New Jersey again, thinking maybe this just wasn’t the right time — I was right.

Very soon after my first pageant, I got scouted to compete in USOA Miss New Jersey. I was hesitant at first, thinking I would still not be prepared to compete in another pageant after such a devastating loss. Something told me this time it would be different. I knew one thing: I wanted to wear the exact same gown I wore to Miss New Jersey — but this time, I wanted to walk away with the crown. At that point, I was naive enough to think only about the symbol of the crown on my head. I wanted the title, but I didn’t know what the title really meant to me.

Over the course of a few months, all that changed. In August, I faced the biggest challenge of my life — losing my dream job in an industry that was already in tatters. I had just earned my citizenship a few months ago, and here I was, six months later, jobless and hopeless. I felt alone, neglected, and a bit of a failure. My loss was a small one in the grand scheme of things. Through my journey, I met other women, all in the same boat — all just looking for a little hope.

That led me to launch my platform, the Women Without Borders Community (WWBC) — a support group for women of color to have a safe space to voice their opinions and rant about issues, no matter how big or small, because sometimes you just need someone to listen. My platform is what gave me the strength to push past the heartbreaking loss of my job, pull myself back up, and learn to try again.

Just one month after my layoff, I launched my dream: Nakhra — the magazine you’re reading this article in today. Some might think it was crazy to start a new magazine in a world where even legacy media is having trouble surviving. I told myself, What do I have to lose? Nakhra became an embodiment of my platform, Women Without Borders — a tangible goal that I achieved with the support of the women surrounding me. Now, Nakhra is able to tell the stories of women-owned businesses, support women writers, and strive to feature small businesses through its work. It’s also a place for me to write as myself, holding nothing back.

I changed a lot in those few months between the Miss New Jersey stage and the USOA Miss New Jersey stage. I was a different woman. I was now confident, proud of myself, and knew exactly what my skills and talents were worth. As my coach would say — I was now thinking like a winner. At that point, it became more about winning the crown for me — I finally knew why I wanted to be the next USOA Miss New Jersey.

I wanted to represent women like me who had to, at one point, choose between following their career or chasing a dream. I wanted to show women it’s never too late to start anew, build a business, or try a new hobby. In a world where we’re constantly put down and made to believe we’re less than, I wanted to show women that we are more — we are exactly who we choose to be.

Meeting all the wonderful women at the USOA New Jersey pageant, I felt an immense sense of pride that I was chosen to compete with them. I felt responsibility and respect for myself representing as Miss North Jersey at the state pageant. I walked with purpose, finding strength in each step, confidence radiating from my being — something I had severely missed the mark on with Miss New Jersey previously.

I knew who I was and the story I needed to tell. It was authentic, raw, and real — representing me as a whole, no frills attached. I remember thinking — while I joined my fellow sisters for the sashes and crowning on stage — that I would be fine no matter the outcome. I had built friendships, celebrated with these women, and watched each of them grow and blossom over the course of one weekend. They had earned the crown just as much as I had, and I was so happy to support each and every one of them. And they were just as happy for me when I walked away with the crown — that is true sisterhood.

The moments after my crowning were a blur. I remember the outpouring of love from my sisters and just struggling to believe that I had actually achieved my dream. I knew my work was far from over. As the reigning USOA Miss New Jersey, my hope is to continue to build the Women Without Borders community and support as many communities and women of color as I can. But most of all, my hope is to show women like me that it’s never too late to achieve your goals.

My reign isn’t for me — it’s for every beautiful soul that has made me who I am today, starting with my mom. I’m so excited for my year ahead, and you can catch all my latest adventures on my official Instagram, @USOAMissNewJersey.