Gangtok, May 15, 2012

As Gangtok is busy with Spring Carnival Festival, SIKKIM MAIL has brought for the readers a refreshing interaction with the North East’s most beautiful woman. She is a perfect package that would be able to represent northeast to the world in the days to come.

SIKKIM MAIL caught up with the vivacious 22 year old, who represented the Sikkim State in the Sunsilk Mega Miss Northeast 2012, which was held at Dimapur, Nagaland from 3^rd of May to 10^th May. Winning the crown has been whirlwind experience, for what will be surely one of the most exciting nights of her life. She is a role model for those who feel like quitting. She is the eldest daughter in the family and half of the responsibilities have been shouldered on her. This time she has thought for the aged people whose childrens have abandoned them. She had earlier donated Rs 5,000 to Sai Mandir at Geyzing. She says “The blessings I will receive from all those elderly people will be enough for my life time and I think even after that”.

Zennyla Bhutia, Miss North East 2012 was born in Gangtok, to late Pem Dorjee Bhutia and Pushpa Tamang. She did her schooling from St. Joseph’s Convent, Kalimpong and then from Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok. She graduated from Sri Sathya Sai University in Anantapur at Andhra Pradesh. In February 2012, she had won the Miss Sikkim title that was held in the capital.

SM: Hi Zennyla. Welcome to this interview. First, what is the feeling after being crowned Miss North East 2012?

Zennyla: The feeling was great.. I was… and I am still brimming with happiness. It was one of the proudest feeling ever. The first thing I could remember when my name was announced was my dad and my mom. So, I just burst into tears because I knew that I had made my parents and especially my dad, who is not amongst us now, very proud.

SM: What would you say that has been the cutting edge that made you the champion?

Zennyla: First, the Miss Sikkim title had boosted my confidence and I had a wonderful experience. So, I guess along with this experiences and my hardwork, helped me winning the most prestigious title of Sunsilk Mega Miss Northeast 2012.

Everyone was really good both with their communication skills and confidence level, but I feel it was the personality I displayed that proved to be a cutting edge for me. During the whole grooming session I was very composed and calm. I did what I was asked to and always made all the events on time. I am very particular about time and don’t like to waste any. So, I guess these were the little things that the judges noticed and finally conferred me with the title. And the judges used to say that the whole time that they weren’t looking for a model but for a perfect package that would be able to represent northeast.

SM: How was the feeling before the contest and had you ever thought of being crowned?

Zennyla: To be really honest, I was a bit nervous before the competition. The presence of other beautiful ladies in the contest was a strong indication that the contest was going to be tough. I was not exactly confident before the contest.

SM: We heard that your mom was back home and was waiting for your call. What was the reaction of your mother when you rang her?

Zennyla: (smiles) she was the first one whom I called after being crowned. As it was already midnight, she was half asleep waiting for the news and when I did call her she jumped out of bliss. Though I didn’t see her jump over the phone, (laughs) but I could make out through the expression of her tone, the way she congratulated me.

SM: Who was the most happiest person when you won the title?

Zennyla: Obviously, my mom and my family members. My friends have also supported me a lot and I am really thankful to each and every one who trusted me and supported me and encouraged whenever I needed them.

SM: Have you received any offers till now? Can you brief us about the contract?

Zennyla: I have one year contract with mega entertainment and have a fashion show in Namchi and then next month probably in Arunachal Pradesh.

SM: How was the grooming session that was held from 3rd may till the finale?

Zennyla: the grooming session helped every one of us a lot. The right pose, right walk, right expression, everything was well taken care of. Our mentor for the whole grooming session was Mrs. Priyanka Chandaliya Chaudury, who is also a winner of Sunanda Tillotama beauty pageant that is held in Kolkata every year. The other was Sweety Sharma and Abhijeet Singha.

SM: Can you brief us abound the rounds, what were the other subtitles? What was your best round from the whole event? Say something about Tamang dress as you had worn it for your traditional round?

Zennyla: There were 4 rounds, first we had the traditional round also the introduction rounds, then we had a dress designed by Akhom and Akhoi, duo young designers from Nagaland, which included the fun activity. The contestants had to dance and act a bit with the DJ and the photographers on the stage. Then the top 10 were announced and were interviewed on the stage by the host. The final round with top five was with a beautiful red gown designed by Sweety Sharma, designer from Guwahati,

My darling round was the round in the designer dress where we had to dance entering the stage and have fun on the ramp.

I wore traditional Tamang dress in the traditional round. As my mom is Tamang, I had always wanted of wear the dress but I never got the opportunity, so I thought that it was a beautiful platform. The dress was very comfortable and easy to carry on the stage. The Tamang cap dragged huge attention when I was walking down the ramp’. (Smiles)

SM: What was the question in the question round and what was your answer? How was the feeling that time?

Zennyla: The question was, what did Sunsilk Mega Miss Northeast 2012 mean to you? And my answer was; ‘Sunsilk Mega Miss Northeast 2012 means a lot to me because it has been the biggest platform after winning Miss Sikkim and the experiences I have gained from the mentors and the crew members in this pageant will prove to be a learning curve for me as it will help me a lot if I ever happen to represent the northeast in national pageants’.

Yes, I was nervous because I was the last contestant to be questioned and it was the least expected beauty pageant question. But, thankfully it went on well. Though I could have answered better if it were other questions but anyways, I am at least happy that I did a first-class job at the spur of the moment.

SM: Your big dreams 5 years from now?

Zennyla: 5 years from now. I would love to be a successful person and by successful I mean in high spirits and fully satisfied with my life and my job.

SM: Mantras for keeping yourself fit for the contest?

Zennyla: hhmm.. (smiles) To be honest, I have reduced junk foods to a lot extent, I had also joined the gym but couldn’t go regularly as I was out of station for quite long but now I am back and I would like to continue. I also do a little bit of yoga and drink lots of water.

I don’t starve myself because that is the worst thing to do. I try to eat a hearty breakfast, n then reduce the quantity for lunch and dinner. As the famous saying goes…” eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper”

SM: Just 20 words to be successful?

Zennyla: Have faith in yourself, be confident and hard work is a must because nothing comes easy.

SM: What role you planned in future as you are the eldest daughter and the responsible one in your family?

Zennyla: Of course, as the eldest, I am the responsible one and I would like to be the kind of daughter who will be able to give anything that my mom asks for. Because the things she has done for me and the sacrifices she has made just to make us happy are beyond words. I just pray and hope that I become successful and be able to give all the happiness of the world to my mom and my brother.

SM: It is also learnt that it was your first visit to NE, how was the feeling?

Zennyla: Ya…It was my first visit to NE region and it was great meeting people from all the seven States and knowing them. It was really a learning experience for me as I got to witness diverse cultures and their traditional dresses, which were all very attractive.

SM: You won the Miss Sikkim 2012 and the Miss NE 2012….What next?

Zennyla: Everyone is asking me this question, “what next?’” (Smiles) and I question to myself “what next?” As of now I haven’t really thought about “the next” because I want to enjoy the present and do whatever I can that will let me uplift my State’s name. I have few fashion shows in the following months and then I hope to participate in Miss India next year.

Ahh. I have a big role to play after being crowned. I have been chosen as an icon for the northeast and I would do anything to uplift the northeastern region and make ourselves eminent in the national field.

SM: How is the response from the State, friend and the near and the dear ones?

Zennyla: I guess the whole pageant happened so silently and I think that many of them have not heard about it. I even believe that the Government, department are not well informed, where as I learnt in the contest that the contestants from the other States were backed by the government and the department of the respective participants.

The whole beauty pageant concept is a bit rare in Sikkim and I feel people have to broaden their horizon a bit in this area and encourage young girls like Sonam Pachey and me by showing some form of appreciation because we did make Sikkim proud.

Friends, family, cousins they expressed their deepest contentment on my winning.

SM: How much you are interested in Social work? Have you done something for society as of now?

Zennyla: Earlier when I won Miss Sikkim contest I donated Rs 5000 to a small Sai Mandir in Geyzing. This time I would like to do something for those aged people in old age homes whose children have abandoned them. When I was studying in Kalimpong, our class was taken to one of the old age homes there and it was really a sad environment to see. The way they were fighting for one toffee that we had taken for them…. So, I would like to do something similar again. I cannot do anything big but something is better than nothing.. The blessings I will receive from all those elderly people will be enough for my life time and I think even after that.

One gets happiness by doing some form of social work and I would be more than happy if I ever got the opportunity. In today’s world, even social work needs financial support and if the people will be able to help me I would love to.

One doesn’t have to do big thing in a day, but a small-small good things in a day will add a bigger in the future.

SM: Will you be joining professional institution for bigger contest?

Zennyla: I want to but I don’t think I will. I have been out of home for a long time. Now I would like to stay back and prepare here itself.

SM: Two rapid fires question for you. Sikkim or Switzerland?

Zennyla: Of course Sikkim. Sikkim is the place where I was born and raised. In no way I would prefer other countries. Though I would love to visit Switzerland someday and also other parts of the world, but Sikkim is inseparable part in my life.

SM: Facebook or Twitter?

Zennyla: Facebook… though I also have a twitter account but I do not use it often and I also don’t have much friends in my twitter account.

 

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