DNA Exclusive: Miss Universe runner-up Adline Castelino opens up COVID-19, lockdown answer and Bollywood aspirations

On being asked how does it feel to be representing India on the world stage, breaking the 20-year drought of India's non-placement in the Top 5 by and finishing as the 3rd runner-up at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant, Adline Castelino told DNA in an exclusive interview, "I think it's an experience of a lifetime. And I'm very grateful for it, especially because of what is happening during that time where I'm seeing so much in my country, with a lot of people building up the resilience to fight the COVID-19. So, it comes at a very special time. And usually, we say that it was a 20-year drought of India's non-placement in the Top 5. But, I would like to point out that there have been so many women that have come before me, a lot of winners, a lot many Miss Universe India participants that have done so well in the pageant. Sometimes, we kind of not look at their performance, not look at what they have done internationally, just because they don't have a placement. I feel that for me to even come here, I have looked up to these women and seeing their performance, I have learnt from them, both from their strengths and from their weaknesses. And that is what helped me get this position for India and get so close to the crown.  They don't get their due because they don't get a placement. But I feel their journey is as important as my journey.

"Absolutely no regrets. It comes from this understanding that they can only be one winner. And there are a lot of actors that affect or influence that. What is important for me, especially during this year, was to represent India in the best way possible in terms of strength in terms of what India is beyond the headlines that are being shown internationally about the COVID, etc. I feel somewhere we as representatives of the country, show, the business side for our country, show the affairs of what's happening. So I felt, showing that side of India was very important and to get international attention to the country at this point in time. And I gave it my best from the beginning with only one purpose in my heart -- to make my country proud and give them something positive during this circumstance. Regardless of what happens, at the end of the day, they can only be one winner, but it's not for life. I know I have a huge journey to make after this as I keep making my country proud. It's not the end," Adline Castelino said. 

On being asked if participating in beauty pageants was always part of her career plan, Adline Castelino told DNA, "Honestly, it was never a part of my plan. I came to Bombay because I wanted opportunities. I am somebody who loves dancing, and I thought I'd come to Bombay to be a dancer. At the same time, I was preparing for medical. This (Miss Universe) was not even the plan. I was planning to become a dancing-doctor. But I think in life you're always directed to your goal. I learned soon that this is not what I really wanted. I wanted to get involved in business, marketing, and all of these things. Beauty pageants came in the way of it when I met people. I used to be a fashion fanatic when I was younger, growing up in Kuwait. For me, it was something to look up to back then, but I never thought that I could be one of them. I never thought it was for me. There was not much representation at Miss Universe, for women of colour, who look like me. So, I never thought about it. I think when I came here(Mumbai, India), and I saw women actually commanding that space, that's when I got the wind and the confidence to do so."

"The reason I could answer that question very well is that our country is on the verge of deciding whether we need a complete lockdown or marriage between the economy and health. So, for me to witness the migration last year, the exodus and all of these things very closely and personally being impacted by the pandemic emotionally helped me answer the question in the truest form possible. It's just amazing that they ask very relevant questions that affect us in our daily life in beauty pageants nowadays. And they give women that chance to talk about it. And am so glad that the people were very happy with what I answered because it can be a very tricky question that even our leaders may not be able to answer in 30 seconds," Adline Castelino said.

For the unversed, Adline was asked -- "Should countries lockdown due to COVID-19 despite the strain on their economies, or should they open their borders and risk a potential increase in infection rates?"

To which she answered, "Good evening universe. Well, coming from India and witnessing what India is experiencing right now, I have realized something very important that nothing is more important than the health of your loved ones. And you have to draw a balance between economy and health. And that can only be done when the government works with the people hand in hand and produces something that will work with the economy. Thank you."

When asked wasn't drawing a balance between economy and health difficult at a time when COVID is wreaking havoc and medical infrastructure has collapsed, Adline told DNA, "Absolutely, I think it's the most difficult thing. And that's why the government needs to work with the public. I think transparency is key. When the public knows what exactly is happening, and when both sides can participate and come to a conclusion, it is better. Because if you have one of the segments, or one of the components of the entire system not working together, then things can fall apart. It's a very sensitive case, and you can never have the right answer. You can only work combinations. It's so crucial because it's a matter of life. Every time a wrong decision has been made, so many lives have been lost. And that's what has happened, unfortunately. I hope that we learn from this experience and move forward. We don't blame each other but actually learn from this incident on a very individualistic and national level."

Opening up about her Bollywood aspirations, Adline told DNA, "I worked as a model here in Bombay, and I've always been in the entertainment industry. Now that I've spent a lot of time in front of the camera, I am really enjoying myself and having this opportunity to evolve as a personality, I am somebody who's really interested in future opportunities. But at the moment, I'm focusing on being involved in society and doing what I can by using this platform."

On being asked who among the former beauty queens in the industry does she look up to? Adline said, 'I've always been fascinated by strong women and luckily, we have so many winners, so many eminent personalities from the beauty queen arena like Sushmita Sen. She's not only an actress, but she's also somebody who opened her own jewellery line in Dubai. There's Lara Duta, Neha Dhupia and others. What I really love about these women is that they are not only actresses, and not only successful in one sphere of life, they have multiple aspects to them. So I like the overall concept. I am interested in business at the same time I'm interested in the entertainment industry.

"I would love to see if there are some projects in the future, something that we can work on post the lockdown for sure," Adline said. 

On being asked if she recalls shooting for Arjun Kanungo's music video, Adline said, "I'll give you the backstory to that video. So I had just injured my back. So, during the entire music video, there's a tape on my back. Therefore, I had to choose my clothing very wisely. We shot only for a day in Daman but it was such an amazing shoot... Arjun, Carla, they're all such fun company to have. We had an amazing time together. It didn't feel like a shoot, it felt like you're just enjoying."