Homemaker to world beauty pageant

LUDHIANA: Even when she goes out for a shopping spree, Vandana Kapoor, 34, seeks out her husband to help her choose a lipstick. But she never took reliance on the family as weakness, as she would willingly opt for a cushioned life. But life had different plans for her.
Vandana, a resident of Gurdev Nagar, will represent Punjab in the Mrs India-Asia International beauty pageant.She is one of the 25 women from the country to participate in the beauty pageant for married women. While that's great news, it also means a step out into the unknown. "The problem is I am still very new to all this. There was a time when I wouldn't even step out of my home. I have always liked being cocooned", she said.
But her husband, Jatinder Kapoor, a businessman, takes this as a great opportunity. A few years ago, he made her join a kitty in her neighborhood hoping it would encourage her to step out. But she never showed up at the kitty. "He has always motivated me. He bought me farms so that I could work and finally got me into this beauty pageant. A woman can move the world, but a little support strengthens her", she said. Vandana's tryst with beauty pagents began in college, when she won the title of Miss Fresher in 1999. But soon after, she got busy with her family. "I was married during my graduation years and my daughter was born, followed by my son Neil. They were always my priority and taking time for anything else wasn't easy. But now they are grown up", she explained.
However, the metamorphosis into a diva did not come easy. "My husband would wake me up early in the morning even in the winter to go jogging. I am a big time foodie but instead of aloo ka parantha and channe bhature, I was supposed to have green tea," she laughs.
Besides, she had to take the 20-day grooming lessons in Pune and dancing classes at a local institute. Vandana, who is a very good semi-classical dancer, has passed on the skill to her daughter Diya, 9. These days, Diya is trying to encourage her mom. "She doesn't even talk about Mrs India or Mrs Asia. She tells me that I have to bring home the title of Mrs World", she gushed.
From learning the art of walking the ramp to taking family's advice on portfolio postures, Vandana has been doing it with grace. But she is determined to keep her feet on the ground.
She will still cry at the airport during departures and scream at the sight of a lizard.