Odia Woman Wins Mr Miss And Mrs Plus Size India 2021 Title

Odia Woman Wins Mr Miss And Mrs Plus Size India 2021 Title

It is very rightly said that body confidence does not come from trying to achieve the ‘perfect’ body. It comes from embracing the one you already have. Priyadarshini Nayak Patra is one such woman from Odisha who has lived up to it. Not only in daily life, but she has also outshone herself by being crowned the winner of Mr. Miss & Mrs. Plus Size India 2021. My City Links caught up with her with an exclusive chat to know her journey.

25 contestants participated in the Fashion And Lifestyle Council (FLC) Season 1 of Mr. Miss and Mrs. Plus India 2021. Priyadarshini bagged the title, while Tapasi Sinha from North East was titled as the first runner up, followed by the second runner up, Atasi Misra, from Odisha. Atasi is a social worker who runs her own dance school.

Mr. Miss & Mrs. Plus Size India is not only a competition of beauty but also intelligence, wisdom and confidence of the participants. Throwing light on the contest, Priyadarshini said, “I am really feeling proud and happy. FLC has given a great platform to plus size women who can showcase their talent and potential. Size does not matter. What really matters is how comfortable and happy you are being yourself. Upholding this belief, FLC has surely given men and women a wonderful chance and empowered them.”

Priyadarshini has been an overweight girl since her childhood. She was always taunted and criticized for it until she started to feel bad about herself. Nevertheless her family was supportive and helped her to overcome this rough phase. “I have been obese since childhood. Being overweight was not a choice. There was a time when I starved myself and took up extensive exercise to look the way society dictated. But it only got worse and I never lost weight but became weaker. This is when I learnt to love myself. Being happy with the way you are is what matters,” she said confidently.

She also won the title of the Ms. Curvy body in the same competition. “This title has only boosted my confidence. I was criticized for my body. Now my body type is praised and loved by a group of judges. I couldn’t have asked for more,” she added as she beamed with happiness.

The show was judged by Fizah Khan India’s first plus size model, Dr. Rashi Jain, winner of Mrs. India Inc. 2019 and Ankita Soni, General Manager of Parfait India.

An ardent lover of arts, dance, modeling and fashion, Priyadarshini received criticism for even trying out in these fields for her body. And top it, there wasn’t much scope for plus size enthusiasts in Odisha. “Not everyone is critical but the very few who are, actually overpower the praises. I have seen people praise each other for their confidence and grace. But again there are a few who spoil the entire atmosphere with a mean comment. Ignoring is not always possible. The stares and comments slowly died down as I started to show my confidence,” she informed.

A dusky-skinned beauty, Priyadarshini has broken the barriers of body size as well as discrimination based on skin complexion. “I have seen western people tan their skin to that dusky complexion. We are here trying our best to get a fair skin tone. How ironic is that! So I believe that one should always be happy in their own space with whatever you have. Comparing yourself to others will only bring your own confidence down,” she added.

Hailing from Puri, and now settled in Jatni, post marriage, Priyadarshini is now a school teacher by profession as well. Besides being a body-positivity influencer, she is also passionate about painting, dancing and cooking whenever she has the opportunity. She has also been the finalist in Dance Odisha Dance Moms. Her confidence and gracefulness had won her laurels there too.

“I do not promote being obese at all. In fact, being healthy is a necessity of life. But again people shouldn’t be judgemental about other people who have a hard time coming to terms with their body type. Strive for a healthy lifestyle. Be confident with what and who you are. Being happy also matters a lot,” she further clarified.