‘How you play the game matters most’

She’s three weeks into the Miss Earth pageant and she’s already making her mark.
Nicole Faria, Pantaloons Femina Miss India-Earth 2010, all of 20, has her goals set high but her feet firmly planted to the ground. The leggy beauty who has been modelling professionally since the past five years, has already won the Miss Talented round at the 10th edition of the Miss Earth pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and is eagerly awaiting the finals that will take place on December 4.“Vietnam is surreal. The air is so clean and non-polluted. There are beautiful beaches everywhere - it’s simply nature at its best. We were taken around town, many people greeted me saying Namaste Miss India. It was quite an overwhelming experience,” says Nicole excitedly.
Having excelled at the talent round, Nicole has been given an extra boost of confidence. “I performed a belly dance for this round,” says the Bangalore beauty.
Since the Miss Earth pageant focusses on the need to protect the Earth, Nicole has been reading up on environment related issues. She believes that it’s the small simple steps towards saving nature that really count. “I’ve tied up with a company in my hometown that promotes the use of solar power as electricity for homes and offices. I’ve also helped spread the message about the benefits of rainwater harvesting. Further, I’ve taught underprivileged kids about the importance of planting trees, saving water and not littering our country.
Ultimately, the kids of today are the future of tomorrow,” she says compassionately. And what does she think will set her apart from the other beautiful contestants? Nicole says it’s her personality. “When I walk into a room, I feel all eyes are on me and that makes me a bit conscious, which is better than being overconfident. I want to take it all in, one step at a time. Right now my main focus is the pageant. I want to make friends and enjoy my time in Vietnam. It’s not about winning or losing, but how you play the game,” she ends smiling.
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