‘There’s more to Indian beauties than just a pretty face’

Tanya Datta | Nov 21, 2011, 12.00AM IST

...says Hasleen Kaur, PFMI Earth 2011, just before her departure for the Miss Earth pageant

Hasleen Kaur wants to "instill" India in everything she does at the upcoming Miss Earth 2011 pageant on December 3 in Manila, the capital city of Philippines. With 90 countries participating, how does this Pantaloons FeminaMiss India Earth 2011 plan to stand apart fromthe rest of the contestants? "I'm going to show what I have learnt at every step and talk about India's sensitivity towards environmental issues today. A lot of seriousness and a bit of mycharm should do the work for me!" says Hasleen. She has backed many noble causes like fundraising for the Navjyoti India Foundation, Times Green Initiatives like the Earth Care Awards where she planted 500 trees, Green Ganesha (educating the youth about safer ways to celebrate festivals) and plantation drives at the Bhatti Mines in Delhi, which are being taken care of by our Territorial Army's eco battalion.

Hasleen feels she has done her bit by going to the grass root level in a short span of time and is positive that her work seems to be in sync with the pageant's theme - Smile for Earth, for All. Hasleen is now looking forward to the pageant having really worked hard towards it. Having been trained by the best in the industry she feels she has developed as a person and can face the international stage with more confidence. "My team has done an excellent job and I can feel the change within myself. I have learnt to tackle the media, I feel more confident about being vocal about my ideas. My fitness level is at an all time high and I feel all this is a step towards the crown." Nicole Faria, Miss Earth 2010, was the first Indian to have won the international title. With Hasleen representing the country, there are a lot of expectations from her, "Pressure will always be there. I am going with the intention of winning the crown. By winning the crown last year, Nicole reinstated that Indian beauties are intelligent and there is more to us than just a pretty face,"asserts the leggy lass.