You have just returned home from the 74th Miss Universe competition—how are you feeling at the moment?

I feel terrific. It’s been a long time since I was home. The warmth and appreciation I’ve received from everyone feel incredible.

What was your experience like during the 19-day competition?

At first, I didn’t realize how intense the pressure would be. I started out just enjoying the experience. But I quickly realized I had a responsibility to bring something back to Bangladesh. People placed a lot of trust in me. I learned that it’s not just mental strength—it’s physical endurance, technical skill, mental resilience, and so much preparation. Looking back, I think I could have prepared even more. Overall, though, it was a fantastic journey. The highlight for me was representing the dream of 180 million people with the red and green flag of Bangladesh.

As a first-time participant, how did you adapt to new situations?

I have experience in other beauty pageants, and I’ve also done international work. I’ve traveled to many countries for work and for personal tours. Building friendships, adjusting to different cultures—I’m not new to these. For someone without that experience, it might have been tougher, but I managed.

You mentioned needing more preparation. In which areas?

I felt we lacked sponsors. A major program like Miss Universe requires significant sponsorships. The government needs to have a relationship with the organizers. Many countries had major sponsors, but our country didn’t.

I also couldn’t properly promote Bangladeshi designers. Most of our top designers focus on traditional clothing. But traditional attire can’t always be worn in international programs. Maybe they can be worn once or twice to represent the country. I didn’t get enough support when it comes to clothing.

I took only two or three outfits, while at least 50 or 60 were needed. So I had to struggle a lot. I sourced clothing from Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Another gap was media coverage. Journalists from other countries covered the event extensively—taking videos, shooting photos. But no one from Bangladesh was there. From that perspective, I think Bangladesh lagged behind. It made me realize how far behind we are. That’s why after coming back, I said—we have a lot more to do to succeed internationally. Girls need more support, training, and styling. We have so many shortcomings.

How would you assess your own performance?

I went to win, not only to participate. I never thought Bangladesh couldn’t succeed or that I couldn’t contribute. I studied beauty pageants extensively and learned from multiple sources. I’m proud of what I achieved based on my own effort.

What was your experience with contestants from other countries?

I built friendships with participants from Brazil, Thailand, Venezuela, the Philippines, and more. Those relationships will continue in the future. They saw Bangladesh as a country capable of sending strong contestants.

Do you have plans to support future Bangladeshi participants?

I never thought about opening a school for beauty pageants, but now I see the need. Young women must train to compete effectively, to become winners. That’s why I’ve announced on Facebook that I’m opening a training school. There, I’ll train and prepare them for beauty pageants, so that future participants can perform well.

What would you say to the people who voted for you?

Everyone who supported me, loved me, and has shown true patriotism. They didn’t vote just for me—they voted to bring victory to Bangladesh. If people continue to come forward like this, Bangladesh can achieve success on the global stage.

You worked on a web project with Jahid Preetom—that has now been released. Can you tell us about it?

I completed it before going to the competition. Now it’s released. I plan to continue acting, and I want to learn and work across both big and small screens.