Miss India is Beauty with a Purpose finalist

The Beauty With A Purpose title will give Pantaloons Femina Miss India ’09 Pooja Chopra a short-cut entry into the top 16 finalists at the Miss World pageant.
When we last spoke to Pantaloons Femina Miss India ’09 Pooja Chopra from Johannesburg, South Africa, she was quite depressed because of her twisted ankle, for which she had been advised bed rest for three weeks. However, Pooja is no quitter and decided to walk the ramp with a cast on.
Hard work always pays and this stands completely true for Pooja. Along with Miss Barbados and Miss Guatemala, Pooja Chopra has been announced as the Beauty With A Purpose finalist. The winner from these three will be declared during the pageant today. The winner will go through to the Miss World Semi-Final and last sixteen of the competition.
This special annual award programme singles out Miss World contestant, who through their charitable work, have made a real difference to people in need in their respective homelands.
Pooja’s sister, Shubhra Mendonca is delighted with the news and is looking forward to the pageant. She says, “Pooja has been a fighter since birth. She is in extreme pain and is regularly taking painkillers, so that she can live her dream. Being an elder sister, I was quite worried for her and advised her to back out, but Pooja was furious to hear this. She replied, ‘It’s not Pooja Chopra participating in Miss World, it’s Miss India’.”
“My mom is in South Africa and is very tense. We all are praying for Pooja and hope she brings the crown home after eight year,” Shubhra concludes.
We have our fingers crossed for you, Pooja!