Conducting herself with style and confidence, it’s easy to
see what won Aafreen Rachel Vaz the first runner up title at the FBB Femina
Miss India 2015. Born in Socorro Maina, this 25-year-old was brought up in
Mumbai before moving to New Zealand at the age of 12. Aafreen returned to India
to study at AJ Institute of Sciences in Mangaluru where she participated in the
Campus Princess Contest which led her to the FBB Femina Miss India 2015
pageant.
Aafreen fell in love with modelling while living in New
Zealand. “I was modelling in New Zealand and participated in the New Zealand’s
Next Top Model contest; that was four years ago. It gave me good exposure to
the world of modelling. I was doing my BSc, majoring in Physiology at Otago
University after which I did a one year cancer research project in India and
joined the AJ Institute of Sciences in Mangaluru to complete my MBBS,” says
Aafreen.
Aafreen has a huge following in Goa, Mumbai and Manguluru as
she is known in all three states. “My family is in Goa; I grew up here. But I
studied in Mumbai before going to New Zealand and I’m now in Mangaluru. I
participated in various projects which gave me recognition and that helped me
connect with the audience. While doing my MBBS, I directed a short film and was
showcasing it in Pondicherry when I came across the Campus Princess Pageant. I
was crowned the Campus Princess of India 2015 which gave me direct entry to
Miss India 2015.”
However, there was a catch in winning the grand title of FBB
Femina Miss India. “As I am a citizen of New Zealand, I could not win the crown
and officially represent India. I won various titles in the competition
including being in the top 3 for Beauty With A Purpose, Beautiful Smile, Top 8
in Body Beauty and Miss Congeniality title,” says Aafreen, who is now heading
for either the Miss International or Miss Supranational pageant.
She was confident throughout the competition. “I was very
confident and answered very well. One thing I noticed about myself is that
whether it was during the competition or even during my free time, I
communicated with a lot of people, from management, to assistants to the
chaiwala; and through it all, I was myself. I spoke in Konkani and Marathi and
because I live in Manguluru, I spoke Kannada as well.”
Aafreen is the granddaughter of Late Afra and Late Philomena
Vaz of Socorro, Maina, Porvorim and daughter of Calisto and Lucy Vaz. “Whenever
I get a chance to visit Goa, I am there. I am missing the fresh fish and the
sussegad lifestyle. There are very few places like Goa where you can put up a
hammock and sleep peacefully. If I get a long weekend break, then I enjoy going
to a party around the Baga beach belt,” concludes Aafreen who will be
completing her MBBS though long distance education with six months of theory
and one year of internship in Mumbai.
