The Inspiring Journey of Mrs. UAE Icon 2024

It was a dream that took root when I was just five years old, dancing and singing with joy, effortlessly winning every school competition I entered. Back then, I thought the stage was where I was destined to shine. But as life unfolded, my family encouraged me to focus on academics, steering me toward a stable future. Though I studied diligently, the vision of a stage, a crown, and the thrill of pageantry never left me.

At 12, while watching the Miss India and Miss Universe pageants on television, I imagined myself walking confidently on that stage, wearing the crown. Still, it felt like a distant dream as I grew older, completed my education, got married, and became a mother of two. That dream seemed buried until one day, when I stumbled upon a social media post for a beauty pageant. I hesitated, and in a playful moment, tossed a coin—heads meant I would register. Heads it was! I shared the idea with my husband, who, without a second thought, encouraged me to pursue it.

I’ve been working as a logistics coordinator for ECCO Middle East A/S, a Danish shoe brand, where I manage logistics in a field where I’ve grown steadily since 2017. Before ECCO, I completed my MTech in Biotechnology in 2010, moved to Dubai, and faced the daunting challenge of finding a job. The pressure was overwhelming, and after months of unsuccessful job searches, I fell into depression, compounded by a miscarriage. But with unwavering support from my husband, I found strength and conceived again, eventually giving birth to our first child. With newfound resilience, I redirected my focus to academics, enrolling in an MBA in Human Resources. In 2013, I returned to India to sit for my exams and, as luck would have it, landed a job in my hometown with the support of my mother, who took care of my young child while I worked.

My career in logistics began in earnest in 2016. I returned to Dubai, determined to find my place in the industry. My husband’s support was relentless—he handed me a travel card and encouraged me to “get out there.” Within a month, I secured a customer service role. The commute was long and tiring, but after a year, I received an offer from Agility Global Logistics, one of the world’s largest logistics firms. This job came with challenges, as my background was in science, not logistics, but I embraced it. Slowly, I made my mark in the company, and at our first annual function, I volunteered to model. Walking in front of 500 employees, I felt my dream come alive. I even won the "Best Dressed Award," fueling my passion for pageantry and modeling.

Through the years, I kept my dream alive by participating in every annual function, winning awards, and exploring ways to model. Even with the arrival of my second child during the COVID-19 pandemic, I held on to my passion. By 2023, I had secured my ideal role with ECCO Middle East A/S as a Logistics Coordinator, where I finally felt balanced and at peace. It was then that I began actively searching for pageants and found one scheduled for 2024. Without hesitation, I registered.

The rest, as they say, is history. This year, I won the title of Mrs. UAE Icon 2024 and earned the subtitle of Mrs. Charismatic, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Walking the runway as a showstopper for a renowned designer brought my journey full circle. I proved to myself—and to countless others—that dreams can be pursued at any stage in life.

Today, I am proud to balance my roles as a logistics professional, a mother, and a beauty queen. I hope my story inspires women everywhere that it’s never too late to chase their dreams. Whether in logistics or on the runway, I am living proof that passion and persistence will lead you to your crown.