Manushi Chhillar debunks the glamour myth of beauty pageants

Former Miss World and rising Bollywood star Manushi Chhillar is speaking her truth. After her latest appearance in the film ‘Maalik’, where she stars opposite Rajkummar Rao, the young actor is opening up about her journey from beauty queen to actress, and the misconceptions that often come with it.

Manushi Chhillar believes in taking a different route. “If someone already has a fixed idea about where you belong, don’t waste time trying to change their minds,” she says. “Just focus on your work, give it your best, and go after the kind of projects you believe in. Everything else will fall into place.”

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Manushi, who won Miss World in 2017, doesn’t feel the need to drastically change herself just because she’s now in films.

 

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She explains, “I didn’t feel like I had to act a certain way or become someone else. Whether it was my time as Miss World or now as an actor, I dress and behave according to the job. At the end of the day, I was just doing my work then, and I’m doing my work now.”

She is also not buying into the idea that beauty pageants are all about glitz and glam. “People often say the pageant world is full of glamour, but I don’t agree with that,” she says. “What you see on TV is just one night when a girl is crowned. But no one talks about the rest of the year.”

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That one night on stage may look shiny and sparkly, but the work behind the scenes is far from it. Manushi shares, “As Miss World, I was working with a charity called Beauty With A Purpose. We traveled to remote areas around the world. It was challenging and emotional, not glamorous at all. That part of the job doesn’t get covered by the media, but it was the most meaningful.”

According to Manushi, the crown was not just a symbol of beauty, but also of responsibility. Her work took her to forgotten corners of the world, bringing attention and support to those in need. “It wasn’t just about dressing up and taking photos,” she adds. “It was about real work that made a difference.”

Now that she’s in Bollywood, Manushi is continuing that mindset, focusing on meaningful roles and staying grounded.