Assam girls scorch the ramp, focus on securing PhD degrees and write about modelling experience
KHELEN THOKCHOM
(From left) First runners-up Sangita Phukan, winner Kashturi Borkotoky and 2nd runners-up Roseleen Kayiakhrasi. Telegraph picture
Imphal, Jan 21 : A beauty contest crown in her kitty, Kashturi Borkotoky, the “Queen of the Mystic East,” wants to dabble in the ways of the wordsmith.
The 18-year-old from Dibrugarh won the pageant organised by a Manipur based organisation, Youth Initiative Foundation at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre in Imphal city last evening. As a next step, she wants to use her modelling experience to write a book on the glamour world.
Twenty-one year-old Sangita Phukan from Jorhat was the first runners-up title while Roseleen Kayiakhrasi, 21, from Senapati district of Manipur won the second runners-up title. The winner received a cash prize of Rs 1.2 lakh, the first runners-up Rs 80,000 and the second runners-up Rs 50,000. Kashturi also won the Miss Perfect Ten title. Sangita was named Miss Photogenic. .
A final year student in a college in Delhi, Kashturi now models for choreographer Anup Banerjee, associated with the Indian Institute of Fashion Technology. At 5 feet 6 inches, Kashturi has bagged more than 40 fashion shows, including some during the recent Commonwealth games.
Though she has participated in beauty pageants like the Glam Hunt and Tilottama, a crown came her way for the first time last evening. Having started her modelling career in Class X, Kashturi wants to go international in her modelling career. Her immediate plan, however, is to get a PhD degree in philosophy. “I just want a doctor’s tittle before my name and I want to write a book on the glamour world, based on my experience. I also want to be a role model for those younger to me,” she said.
Kashturi has edited her college magazine, so she has not ruled out a career in journalism. “I may become a journalist, who knows?” she mused. In the final round of the beauty pageant she was asked why beauty pageants were held in Northeast. She said through beauty pageants, girls here get a chance to showcase their talents. The reply won her the crown.
Sangita is already a writer. She has written four novels in Assamese. The 21-year-old from Jorhat has set her sights on a PhD in English literature. She is now teaching English in Karanga Girls Higher Secondary School, Jorhat, and pursuing a master’s degree through distant education. She also won the Miss Barak title last year.
Asked about Ulfa, Sangita said the stalemate could be resolved through negotiation. “I am not against Ulfa, nor a supporter of it. It is because of their activities that Northeast gets some attention from the Centre. This place has been neglected for long,” she added. She said corruption was the main reason behind the problems in the Northeast and was confident that if talented youths come up, the problems can be easily solved.
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