It’s Never Too Late: The Inspiring Journey of Sonika Rao
For years, Sonika Rao’s world revolved around her family. Becoming a mother of twins at an early age, she chose to dedicate herself completely to their upbringing. While her peers chased careers and professional milestones, Sonika poured her time, energy, and love into shaping her children’s future.
But what makes her story extraordinary is that even while being a homemaker, she never stopped learning. Over the years, Sonika quietly built a treasure of knowledge—completing her M.Com, earning certifications as a Personality Development and Soft Skills Trainer, Yoga Instructor, and even a Master Trainer in Train the Trainers program, along with several teaching courses. All the while, she nurtured a dream—once her children grew independent, she would step into the world to create her own identity.
That moment finally came in 2024, when her twins completed high school and set out toward their college journeys. With her children ready to fly, Sonika was eager to spread her own wings. But reality wasn’t kind. Despite her knowledge and qualifications, she was met with rejection—age and lack of corporate experience overshadowed her capabilities.
Instead of giving up, Sonika looked for a different path. One day, while scrolling through the internet, she stumbled upon a pageant platform. The idea seemed unusual, yet powerful—why not use the stage as a platform to speak for women like her, women who sacrificed their own ambitions for family and now wished to reclaim their dreams?
For an introvert who had spent most of her life within four walls, stepping into the competitive, glamour-filled world of pageantry at the age of 42 was nothing short of a revolution. The journey was anything but smooth. Sonika faced manipulation, politics, last-minute rule changes, and the sheer challenge of competing with professionally seasoned women. She didn’t win her first crown—but she walked away with something far more important: courage, resilience, and the determination to start again from zero, reminding herself of the powerful words from the film 12th Fail: “Zero se restart.”
And restart she did.
In a short span of time, Sonika carved a place for herself on national and international platforms. She earned the prestigious title of Mrs. International 2024, along with Glamorous Goddess and Glamorous Warrior subtitles. She was honored with the Fashion Model Award 2024, featured in premium magazines, and even invited as a jury member for Miss, Mrs., and Mr. India 2024.
Today, Sonika stands as a beacon of hope for countless women who put their families first and wonder if it’s ever “too late” to chase a dream. Her story proves that it never is.
“I want to keep working on myself, to be a better version each day,” she says with quiet confidence. “More than crowns or titles, I want to be a role model for women like me—so they know they should never give up.”