On 25th December, a press conference was held at Park Inn by Radisson in Jalandhar to celebrate Miss Grand International, Rachel Gupta. During the event, Rachel's father, Rajesh Aggarwal, warmly welcomed the guests and expressed his gratitude. This was the first event hosted in the newly opened hall of the hotel.
Rajesh introduced his family, including 20-year-old Rachel, 18-year-old Riya Gupta, and his wife, Jennifer Gupta. He shared memories of Rachel’s childhood, recalling how he would always place a crown on her head during her birthdays and call her Miss India. Eventually, these incidents sparked her dream of winning a beauty pageant. In 2022, Racheal expressed her desire to move to Mumbai and her family ultimately supported her decision.
Rajesh concluded with a powerful message to the public, emphasizing the importance of educating and empowering girls and urged people to stop the practice of female foeticide.
Rachel's future plans:
During the conference, Rachel Gupta was asked about her future plans. In response, she shared that her parents have always encouraged her to pursue her dreams. She has thousands of dreams. She said that she will be seen in both Bollywood and politics. She will give her best to everything as she does not believe in setting limits for herself.
Talking about her Bollywood debut, Rachel revealed that she will step into the Bollywood industry in 2025 and expressed her excitement about the opportunity. “Bollywood is renowned worldwide, and I’m thrilled to represent my country through its films," she further added.
Rachel said that she will continue working with NGOs and she also wants to become a UNICEF ambassador to represent India globally. She said that if she gets an opportunity in politics, she will surely grab it as well.
Rachel Gupta's inspiration:
During the press conference, Rachel revealed about her inspiration and said, “My family is my biggest inspiration, they have supported me more than words can describe. There were days when I wasn’t sure if I could go on any longer because honestly it is so difficult and exhausting but they pushed me forward. This journey would be incomplete without them. They are the biggest reason why I’m here. I’m very grateful and blessed to have a family who supported me the way they did, who pushed me forward the way they did, because so much of my self believe and confidence comes from them. At a very young age, they instilled in me the importance for a woman to be financially independent and that is something I carry every day.”
In the event, Rachel Gupta was asked about the moment that inspired her to pursue a beauty pageant title. Responding to this she said, “On my 18th birthday, my dad placed a little plastic crown on my head. That day remains unforgettable for me. I made a promise to myself that no matter what, I would win a real crown for India and for my parents. That moment was incredibly significant and shaped my character. These moments make our character.”
Rachel's message:
When asked about her message to young girls, Rachel said, “I know that this is a dream for so many girls out there, especially in India, it’s something that we all carry from our childhood. My message is very simple. You need to have an unfaltering sense of self believe, you need to be the person who advocates for yourself and fight for your dreams regardless, of what anybody in the world tells you. We have limitless potential, it is important for you to remember, who you are inside, your values and the core believes. Be the best version of yourself.”
She also shared a message to all the parents and said, “To the parents watching today, I would like to say that believing in your children is the biggest gift you can give them.” When asked about her goal, she said that her goal is to represent her Punjabi culture as well as Indian culture on a global stage.
In the event, she was asked about her thoughts before the final announcement of her win, replying to the question she said, “I kept thinking, ‘Hurry up, please say India! The host took so long to announce the name, building suspense. In that moment, I was hoping to hear my country’s name. When it finally happened, it was truly one of the most magical moments of my life.”
MGI winner's journey:
Talking about her journey, Rachel Gupta described it as incredibly challenging. She said, “You never truly know if you'll be able to win the crown or bring victory to your country. Of course, you have the confidence but at the same time you have a lot of questions in your mind as well. On top of that, you face criticism from others. This journey demands a lot and there’s barely enough time to sleep or eat. You’re constantly interacting with the media and giving interviews. It requires continuous improvement and efforts. But in the end, hard work always pays off.”