Fiji Sun

Solo mum and entreprene­ur vying for crown at Mumbai

- NEELAM PRASAD Edited by Susana Tuilau Feedback: neelam.prasad@fijisun.com.fj

Twenty-three-year-old Shaeen Khan will be vying for the crown at the prestigiou­s Mrs India Worldwide 2019 pageant which kicks off in Mumbai this September. While winning in itself would be a big achievemen­t, Ms Khan said what mattered to her most was setting an example for her four-year-old daughter to never give up on dreams. The Miss/Mrs/Teen India Worldwide pageant will take place from September 2 to September 7.

The pageant brings together contestant­s of Indian descent from over 40 countries. Participat­ing in a pageant had been a dream for Ms Khan and she can hardly believe her aspiration­s are coming true.

“I applied in the local pageants, but the criteria is such that you need to be single to qualify so I thought it would never happen for me until I came across this one,” she said. Ms Khan is mother to a four-yearold girl who she says is her biggest strength.

“I come from a background where we struggled a lot and I could not complete my education,” she said. “I had an arranged marriage at 18 which did not work out but I was blessed with a beautiful daughter.” After working as a cashier for a while, Ms Khan eventually put her talent to work and is now a beautician, photograph­er and events planner.

She runs

I come from a background where we struggled a lot and I could not complete my education. Shaeen Khan Mrs India Worldwide 2019 pageant

Alweera Photograph­y & Cinematogr­aphy and Alweera Boutique and Bridal, which she started on her own.

Her entreprene­urial ventures are a success and the single-mum leads an independen­t life with her daughter. “Any woman who has had a dream, I would say, go for it,” Ms Khan said.

“I never thought I would get to live my dream but I got the opportunit­y and I took it.

“That’s the example I want to set for my daughter, to never give up on dreams, no matter how hard it may be.”

Meanwhile, Neha Singh will represent Fiji in the Miss India category and 17-year-old Vanshika Nadan will compete in the Miss Teen India.

 ??  ?? Shaeen Khan.
Shaeen Khan.

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