Kalpana lends tribal touch to Mrs Asia International in China

MANALI: Just when Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar, the girl from Haryana who made the country proud by winning the coveted crown, returned home this week, another from the neighbouring hill state of

Himachal Pradesh

is preparing to enter a beauty pageant in China.

Kalpana Thakur, a tribal woman from Lahaul-Spiti who lives in Manali along with her family, is representing India in

Mrs Asia International

pageant at Hengdian World Studios, China. The five-day-long beauty contest will have finale on Thursday evening.

In all, five women from India who won Mrs India contest in different categories earlier this year are also vying for the crown.

Kalpana was elected Mrs Classic India. She left for China with her husband last week, and has been busy there. She has gifted Kullu caps to other participants and organisers and even shared ornament-making skills with over 100 beauties from 30 countries present there for the pageant. Her other gifts to the participants include earrings made of plastic bottles and table coasters made of waste materials.

Speaking to TOI over phone from China, she said, “We are having so much fun here. We have got opportunity to exchange culture.”

Interestingly, Kalpana’s son was chosen Mr DPS (

Delhi Public School

) 2017 and her daughter declared Miss St Bede’s College Beautiful Smile 2017. Kalpana and her friends in Manali have been encouraging the women from villages to come forward with their talent and set up an academy to groom women for beauty contests. They have organized many beauty pageants for women in the region.

Meanwhile, Manali Winter Carnival will be celebrated from January 2 to 6. Winter Queen contest is the main attraction of the carnival where beauties from across the country come to vie for the crown. Auditions for Winter Queen are starting from December 10. Kalpana plays key role in successful conduct of this contest as well.