‘LFW - better watch out!’

If you haven’t seen much of this arresting beauty it’s probably because she’s been too busy travelling the world. All of 24, Priyanka Jha is a former Miss Calcutta, a top five finalist at Miss India and first runner-up at the prestigious Metropolitan Top Model Hunt, India. Offered a special contract by Air India, she’s now a flying ambassador for the national carrier. Just back from South Africa where she was crowned Miss International Tourism 2006 from a field of 108 international beauties, she talks to After Hours about her future plans:

What attracted you to the glamour world?
It was for a lark initially. My father, Maj Gen UK Jha, just retired from the army and my mom is an inspector of schools. The stress was always on academics in my family and incidentally, I’m a qualified electronics engineer. Glamour pageants were never my sole focus, I had I to make time for them in-between my education.

How did Air India happen?
After the Miss India finals, I was approached by Air India with a special offer to join as air hostesses. It’s an great job and allows me time off to do assignments and attend pageants. So I thought, why not?

You’re an engineer – don’t you plan to exploit that education?
I do, but right now my focus is on modelling and even films. I’ve also been toying with the idea of training to be a pilot.

But Bollywood already has a Priyanka...
I know, but I’m not going to change my name. I guess I’ll just give her competition (laughs). But being a pretty presence isn’t what interests me, I want to prove my acting skills. For now, I’ll concentrate on modelling. I’d love to walk for the next LFW - better watch out!

s_saumit@dnaindia.net