Today I am enjoying my interior design business, modelling and ramp shows, and looking back, there have been many important milestones that have shaped my life.

I was born and brought up in a Catholic family. As a youngster I spent most of my time playing the guitar and being with friends in the compound of a church. In 1996 when I was in the final year of college studying arts, I decided to take part in the Miss India contest. Little did I realise then that this event would change my life radically and shape my future.

The contest was a life changing moment as I was among the finalists of the contest and I won the ‘Miss Beautiful Skin’ title. But I went on to complete my studies in spite of getting an offer to go to Hong Kong on a modelling assignment.

Encouraged by my success at the Miss India pageant, the following year I participated in the Femina Look of the Year contest and was the first runner-up. Modelling seemed the natural progression and in fact it was my mother who pushed me into the world of modelling. So, the beauty contests did open up my worldview and were the major turning points for me. Though things were slow initially offers began to pour in over time.

My next big break came after I began modelling on a full-time basis and appeared on the cover of Elle magazine in 1998. For the shoot, I teamed a bikini top with a lehenga — which was perhaps a Rohit Bal ensemble. Now I am a part of the fashion industry and have got a grip on how it works, but way back then I was more like on the outside looking in.

(As told to Arundhati Basu)