‘Beauty pageants are about women who celebrate their intelligence’
Tanvi Marak was the second runner-up at Miss Grand India recently
Twenty-six—year-old physician-turned model Tanvi Marak was the second runner-up at Miss Grand India recently. Marak had participated and won in several beauty pageants in Meghalaya and elsewhere in the North East. After securing medical degree and a green belt in Taekwondo, her focus is more on fashion. Excerpts from the interview:
How do you feel about the Miss Grand India 2026 success?
I am extremely overwhelmed and I am thankful to my family, friends and mentors. I will work hard to bring Meghalaya in international platform.
My journey is a true reflection of hardwork and dedication.
You are a medical doctor. How do you see the shift from this professional field to beauty pageants?
I have MBBS degree from NEIGRIHMS, and I earned green belt in Taekwondo. I took a break from the medical profession . It has been my dream to represent Meghalaya and to win something great.
I started the pageantry journey at the age of 12. I won many competitions from 2018. I was Miss Cherry Blossom in 2018, Miss Trendsetter and Miss Meghalaya in 2019 ,Mega Miss North East in 2019,Femina Miss India Meghalaya in 2020. I was among 8 top finalists of Miss Grand India 2024 and now the second runner-up of Miss Grand India.
North East has potential in achieving big in fashion. What are your inspiring words?
To excel in life, you have to believe in yourself. You have to be sure about yourself even when the world is unsure about you. And never be afraid to start small and never compare your time limit with others. Always believe in yourself ,dream boldly, work hard , be confident, and you will teach the heights that you deserve to reach in life.
What is next, what are you aiming for?
Right now, I want to continue inspiring young people. Apart from that, I will still work harder, so that I can represent our North East in the international platform and show to the world that a face that looks like this and the eyes that look like this also belong to India.To be in this field, whether you are competing or not, you have to be really consistent. Yes, I try to wake up early, read, I try to go to gym, I keep myself in nicer shape that I can, and try to keep myself emotionally and mentally strong.
What are you hobbies?
I love cooking with my mother…and that is something I do in my free time.
Your response to the social issues like the rise in cases of HIV-AIDS in Meghalaya…
As someone who truly advocates for HIV/AIDS awareness, I am working with Meghalaya Aids Control Society. I want to tell people that HIV is not just a disease caused by the virus, because before the virus kills the person, it is the misconception, it is the taboo that kills the person, so it is important that we educate ourselves and those who are surrounding us..we should not kill the person who is suffering due to the virus before the virus kills them.
Do you think the North East participants can make it big in pageantry?
We are lucky to live in today’s world. Beauty pageants are not how it was earlier. We have trans-women. Women of any height can come and participate in beauty pageants, because beauty pageants are no longer about a pretty face, or a tall person or best body. It is about a woman who decides to go to a stage and celebrate her intelligence, her power and she becomes someone who turns her identity into impact , so I believe that height can never be the issue. If you believe in yourself you can achieve anything you want.
