AFTER A gap of nearly 11 years, Andhra Pradesh is going to figure on an international beauty pageant. Telugu beauty Vasuki Sunkavalli is going to make the state proud, when she represents India at the Miss Universe contest to be held at Brazil on September 12.

The last time that Andhra Pradesh got into the record books of beauty pageants was in the year 2000, when Hyderabad- born Dia Mirza, now a Bollywood actress, won the Miss Asia Pacific title, apart from being a runner up in the Femina Miss India contest. Of course, in 1997, another Hyderabadi damsel Diana Hayden bagged the prestigious Miss World title.

Twenty six-year-old Vasuki, who was crowned Miss Universe India 2011 at “I AM She-2011″ contest in Mumbai early this month, hails from a remote village Unguturu in West Godavari district, but she prefers to call herself a Hyderabadi. She had her schooling from St Ann’s High School, Secunderabad and graduation from Villa Marie College in Somajiguda, which is known for encouraging girls to take up careers in modeling and films. She later chose to study law at Symbiosis Law School, Noida and went to New York University School of Law for her post- graduation . And Vasuki made it clear that modelling does not become a distraction in her career as a legal professional.

Outspoken and frank in the way she talks, Vasuki said her education in India and abroad had taught her how to speak and connect with the people. And she has her own definition of beauty: “I believe that beauty is skin deep and what comes from within is humanity, faith and love.” Well, all the best Vasuki!