Three's a Crown

• 12 Sep 2014
• Features

Text:Atheena Wilson   Photos: Suneesh Suresh 

Can’t help but get hooked on a conversation with three different personalities - the intelligent,bold and philosophical. They wear their crowns, but today it’s tipped off totheir thinking hats. FWD / WtzUp catches up with the Miss Kerala 2014 winners.

It was a late afternoon soothed with theBlues. Seated at French Toast, Ilooked through the glass window and spotted them as they sashayed in. Therethey were on top of the world with their stilettos, Gayathri Suresh, KonjithaJohn, and Janitha Thomas the winners of Miss Kerala 2014 pageantry. Konchitaremarked, 'It’s refreshing how we always quote others opinions, but this timeit’s our first interview as winners and now we can give our opinions.' Despitebeing so photogenic, they are more beautiful in person.
Wearing a loose fitting peach top and bluedenim, Gayathri had her favourite orange lipstick on, a hint of blue glitter onher eyes and her straight hair falling casually on her face.  In between questions, she breaks into subtlesmiles. She was startled when I mentioned it. Intelligence in her words as shespeaks and oodles of confidence easily bagged her way to the Miss Kerala title.Konjitha has already made a statement with her kinky hair and fuchsia lipstickon, but she has a seraphic aura. There’s something amiable about her soft spokennature especially when you get into her world of literature and philosophy.Meanwhile Janitha, the second runner-up, was in a tribal print bandage top withripped jeans. She’s a little bit of a daredevil and that unfurled in theinterview too. If there was something beautiful about her conversation, it’salways how her eyes, as she coins it, ‘pops.’ With all of them huddling up on abench near the window, the trio was poised for their interview. Away from thefloodlights, a stage, or an audience, we indulged in a conversation and somechocolate cake.

WelcomeLadies, congratulations on your win.(
In unison) Thank you. 

You’vebeen in a whirlwind of events and time must have flown, but what was the mostdistinct moment in your journey of becoming Miss Kerala winners?
Gayathri: Classes with Mr. Murali Menon. He brought out the inner child inus.
Janitha: Last week I was in another world, and now I am in this. I loved themotivation classes. I was still wondering what to do with my life - whether Ishould act or pursue my studies. My mentor told me that I should take a yearoff and try to understand myself better.    
Konjitha: I liked the meditation classes; it helped me connect with my innerspiritual self. It’s also the time I got to relax and sleep off too.  

Let’sadmit it was nerve wrecking when you ladies made it to the top five, what werethe stirring thoughts in your mind when they were announcing the winners? Janitha: After the question and answer round, I kept on thinking, 'What didI just say, will I make it?'
Gayathri: I was happy with my answer, because I got a good response from theaudience. It’s a different experience; ever since I was a child I alwayspracticed in front of the mirror. In my case, it was not a shampoo bottle but abottle of powder. I cried on stage and that just came naturally.
Konjitha: Actually, I had written down something different, but did not readout exactly that answer. The backstage coordinator told me I might bedisqualified. So I was pretty sure that I would not be the winner or a runnerup.  But luckily, what I said was similarto the write up during the last question-answer round. 

Lookingat the light side, what were a few funny things that happened behind the stageor behind those picture perfect moments?
Janitha: It takes a lot of stamina to stand on the stage for a long of time.Thank goodness for our long skirts as we were balancing ourselves on ourstilettos and constantly shifting our legs despite the fixed pose.
Gayathri: (She smiled and looked towards Janitha, nodding her head and addedon to her comment). Each round is forty-five minutes! Your cheeks hurt aftersome time after smiling.
Konjitha: (She’s got a small smile.)The doubts when you finish answeringquestions. 

Duringthe Miss Kerala competition, V.A Sreekumar posed the question 'Who are you inReal? ' Care to surprise us with something that we know and don’t know?Janitha: (She laughs at the second part of the question) I have an incident.Shall I narrate it? It was a long time ago in a theatre at Kochi. Some guyswere teasing my sister. When the movie ended, I spotted a guy and I justquestioned and caught him on the shirt. When he escaped I made it a point thathe wouldn’t get away. I made sure he felt embarrassed for what he did.
Gayathri: (She laughs and agrees that Janitha is quite the feisty one.) Ihail from Thrissur. I have a dual personality; I do not show anyone what’s onmy mind. I may be laughing outside but crying inside.
Konjitha: I come from Mumbai, but my native place is Thrissur. I feel I amnot girly at heart despite my love for literature. (She breaks into giggles,Gayathri and Janitha are also quite surprised.)  

Janithamentioned, 'Last week I was in another world and now I’m in this.' What are afew of your plans that are still here to stay?
Gayathri: I’ve always wanted to be a business woman. I appreciate BeenaKannan. Once I complete my MBA degree, I would love to get into the textilebusiness.
Konjitha: I want to get into performing arts. I am a classical dancer,trained in Bharatanatyam.
Janitha: I would love to start a clothing line. 

Duringthe pageant, you had questions that were focused on gender equality. What’syour view of being a modern woman?
Gayathri: The most important thing that can stand out in a woman is when sheis a woman of substance. For example, in the entertainment industry, there areroles that have become a lot more woman-centric and have gone beyond romancingaround trees. I appreciate Manju Warrier’s role in the movie How Old Are You? As an individual I wantto leave a mark in the world and be remembered for what I do. 

Anoverly used phrase is 'Beauty and Brains'. According to you what has changed inthe beauty pageant over years and what hasn’t? 
Gayathri:My family members were not too enthusiastic aboutthis, but I was determined to be a part of the Miss Kerala pageantry. The wayour confidence got built was tremendous. There was a major difference from whenwe first walked in and now. We were very confident until we met the othercontestants and realized that everyone is equally competent. And then theesteem went down. The sessions helped us increase our self-esteem. Now thereare mentors who make a huge difference, while earlier the participants had tolearn on their own.
Janitha:  It’s easy to carry yourselfin your own eyes, but the society can get a little judgmental. That’s the hardpart; everyone can get a little controlling with what you wear or not.  Earlier there were only a few girls who wouldsign up. But now they are more confident and so many women are proud to be apart of Miss Kerala.
Konjitha: Many of them have a fixed idea about beauty, they were like 'Whycan’t you straighten your hair?'(She was slowly running her fingers through herhair.)If there is one thing that must change, more people should sign up forthe Miss India Pageantry too.  

There'sa philosophy on trying to explain what beauty is, as its very subjective howwould you define it? 
Gayathri: My concept of beauty is that it lies in the inner self.
Janitha: A person who smiles a lot.
Konjitha: I feel like even if it’s a broken hearted person, there should be aspark beyond a level of makeup and even a smile. I think every woman shouldhave ambition in her eyes. 

Withyour beauty also comes a sense of fashion, what's your style that's currentlyruling wardrobe?
Konjitha: I’ve always loved Marilyn Monroe’s sense of fashion. She’s justfull of redness. A black dress, denim jeans, perfume, red lipstick and eyelinerare my essentials.Gayathri: Anything that suits one’s body, but I love the casual look. Musthaves are orange lipstick, denims, frock, eye liner and a brush. (She turnstowards Konjita and we make a light joke on how she can get away with it.)
Janitha: I absolutely love bold prints. But my fashion necessity includes myaccessories, denims, a fancy top, handbag and a brush. 

What'syour advice to aspiring models?
Janitha: Don’t take judgments too seriously.
Konjitha: Trust in God and yes, there’s always a hero in you.  
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