"be happy to represent my country.”
Arya Naik has travelled to India to represent the UK in the Miss Asia Worldwide pageant.
The 20-year-old from Slough won Miss Asia GB in May 2023 and was also awarded Miss Popular, Best Catwalk, Best Talent and the People’s Choice Award.
The Bournemouth University student has now delayed her placement at a PR company to travel to India for the pageant finals.
Arya explained: “There was a lot going on at university and I’d never planned to do this pageant so it’s all happened at once.
“I wasn’t expecting to win and now 2 weeks later, I’m flying out.”
The finals are taking place in Pune, Maharashtra.
Born in the Indian state, Arya moved to the UK at the age of two and grew up in Langley.
Growing up, Arya was involved in school plays, the choir and sports teams but it was Bollywood that struck her interest.
“I’ve always loved Bollywood movies, the songs and picking up choreography from TV.”
For her 11th birthday, Arya was enrolled in dance classes with Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar and was later selected to be part of his Special Potential Batch in his London team.
She trained for many years and performed at Diwali on Trafalgar Square in London and the Athlete’s Homecoming at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.
Arya is also a keen actress and holds Grade 7 in Acting from Trinity College.
Arya enrolled in the Miss Asia GB pageant only a month before the event when a family friend – who won Mrs India UK in 2020 – recommended that she should enter.
She said: “It’s such a big platform and there’s winners coming from all over.
“I’m just going to have fun, try my best and be happy to represent my country.”
Arya has also modelled for bridal and fashion shows. This includes Slough-based hair and makeup studio PK Artistry.
At Miss Asia Worldwide’s talent round, Arya will perform a women’s empowerment-themed dance.
She said: “Since doing the pageant, one topic I feel strongly feel about is tackling conventional beauty standards.
“In the acting and modelling industry, people are turned away before they audition.”
“It’s so unfair because everyone deserves a chance. That’s what I want to fight for with this platform.”
“Beauty standards all over the world are different.
“Indian actors tend to be fair-skinned with Eurocentric features but there is so much skin tone variation in India and I really think that needs to be showcased in the industry.”
Because the pageant will have more media coverage, Arya hopes to build contacts that allow her to move into the Indian film industry.
On her Bollywood aspirations, she said:
“My top three directors are Ayan Mukerji, Zoya Akhtar and Mohit Suri.
“Hopefully acting takes off and I’m able to do that for the rest of my life.”
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