How did she become a beauty Queen at 47?

I could never wear a Salwar kameez without a dupatta and now I even wear a bikini. You can transform yourself at any time in your life!" Says Binita Shrivastava as she shares her journey of grit & glamour with THEWOOMAG.

I have been a housewife for 47 years of my life. Today I am a transformation coach, TEDx speaker, founder of the VG Miss and Mrs. India pageant, author, and former beauty queen..But there was a time when I was a happy homemaker and…

...Yes, A mother of 5

Binita is pretty sure about her identity as a mother of 4 sons and 1 daughter. “One of my sons is a special child. And, I always wanted a daughter and here she is”, with a twinkle in her eyes, she tells me.

Wonder years

So let's begin with my childhood; I was born to an airforce family, my father was an airforce officer, and discipline was strictly embodied into my core. Being a MA B.Ed graduate, I could only dream of becoming a teacher. Us waqt, 500 rupees milte the as a salary.

Being mom

I got married at the age of 24, my husband was 23 at the time. My mother-in-law said that I was chosen because I was tall, I was fair and I could speak in English. What do Indian families need more?

Beauty Queen? Yes, please…

On the professional front, my husband had moved his business to Dubai. I lived the life of a housewife and always admired other women I saw at parties, in shopping malls, and in school - well-dressed with great makeup. Somewhere subconsciously, I wanted to be well-groomed. And it did fructify.

In the year 2017, I decided that I wanted to take part in a beauty pageant. I came to India for 2 months for my competition that was to be held on the 2nd of July.

"My entire belongings were thrown in the dump yard when nobody was home."

Back home in India, my friend told me from Dubai that all of my belongings are thrown into a dump yard. All of their things were put into the basement the most disrespectfully.

My loved ones suggested that I and my family not come back as it will further complicate the process.I am getting goosebumps when I am saying this.

To tell you, I did participate in the pageant. I didn't get proper guidance on how to walk, how to apply makeup, presenting myself, the body language, styling, nothing. I felt the need to understand it. And I did it all by myself.

At the pageant, I found my calling. I realised I needed to improve myself. I kept on learning about presenting myself, I kept on improving my body, and my health and I kept working on myself. 

No end to struggles 

After all the setbacks, we were hardly left with any money or assets. So, we rented a place for 12,000 in Chandigarh, my husband took a job of 50,000 rupees and my eldest son who had just graduated took up a job of 14000 Rupees. My husband was ill-treated at the college where he took up a job at a college. This affected him very deeply. With not having enough money even to send our kids to school, the condition was so gloomy.

My Redemption & a new beginning

I decided I had enough. I had already transformed myself by then. So,I decided to start my own venture - a beauty pageant.

I learned as much as possible. My friends funded my learnings from different coaches. And my brother made a website for the VG Miss and Mrs India pageant. We started small and gradually, came into the public eye. I conducted online auditions, talking to them on the phone on the  behalf of the team where there were only two people working day in and day out. I and my husband made this venture successful.

Can you believe it? We managed to have Miss World - Diana Hayden on the show. The show was a hit and put us in the spotlight though we didn’t earn any profit in the 1st year. And then Covid hit. It was all gloomy again. But, we didn’t turn back. We had only 10 contestants in 2020, and later 18 in 2022. Besides all, I loved how the lives of these women transformed. This put my real mission in my heart. And, I became…

A Transformation Coach

I wanted to impact lives. I am on a mission to empower 10,00,000 women and become an unstoppable, successful, and confident Diva! 

My secret Ingredients to success…

It's all about self-love. I am able to reach here because of self-love. Women should take time out for themselves. Take care of yourself, invest in yourself.

I always say, "Don't suffocate yourself just because somebody is getting pleased. And become financially and emotionally independent.”

You can't pour from an empty cup! My children respect my space and time. They take care of themselves. They are pals, they share everything with me but they have also learnt to be independent and caring towards others.

Not only Binita Shrivastava has transformed her life but she has transformed the lives of 350 women since January 2023 and she aims to go higher and higher. We wish her all the best for her journey, more courage, strength, and persistence. And we are confident she will emerge victorious again and again.