I Am

I Am. I came across these words at a function organized by Sushmita Sen showcasing her hunt for the future Miss India and Miss Universe. I went expecting this to be your typical glossy, page 3 event. One that i was reluctant to attend. But whatever Sushmita said touched me to the core.
This was not your usual run of the mill beauty pageant in which the contestants are decorations. This time, the prospective candidates made eyes ogle and also commanded respect. They were BRILLIANT. One woman, Sangya Lakhanpal, could recite the Bhagwad Gita verbatim, while another, Anuradha Naidu, is visually impaired in one eye. They were all fit, of course, but not technically beautiful. They were smart though and that was plainly visible. Even where Sush is concerned, her beauty is greatly enhanced by her warmth. Her smile touches her eyes.
Here is what i got out of this. What Sush said and what the others said reinforced my belief in the solidity of a woman's determination. I looked at myself and saw everything that is and can be beautiful in me. In my soul actually. I know what i want. Getting it seems like a difficult task, but i am just going on. One day i will get there.
Because 'I am' is not just about a beauty pageant, it is about a woman. Every woman.