'Makeup to Make Up – A Beauty Blueprint'

Jun 18, 2025 - 16:00 Updated: Jun 18, 2025 - 16:02

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'Makeup to Make Up – A Beauty Blueprint'

This blog comes from the heart, as I share my journey as a proud finalist of Mrs. India – Queen of Substance, under the name of Dr. Sudha Lamba.

The registration form was filled on a whim — not the ideal way to enter something so grand, but sometimes the best things in life happen unexpectedly. And this one happened for good.

Soon, I found myself in conversation with the very graceful Mrs. Ritika Vinay, the Founder-Director of MIQS. The interview felt effortless — her warmth was reassuring.

Then came the moment that changed everything: a mail addressed to me as 'Queen,' confirming my selection as a finalist. I felt like I was floating — not on Cloud 9, but with Cloud 9 under my feet.

Pageantry wasn’t my childhood dream. In fact, I never dared to dream that big. I come from a background where vanity, makeup, or any obsession with appearance was silently discouraged — an unspoken dictum. I grew up believing that a person is known solely by their karmas.

But within me, the woman had always been dancing quietly in the shadows, smiling at the mirror when no one was watching. That woman had waited long enough. Now, she was redefining her boundaries and standards — a streak of self-confidence began to shimmer within me like a fresh beam of light.

As I immersed myself deeper into the pageant, its scale, values, and significance left me more impressed with each task that came through the mails. With every step, I felt a sense of pride and purpose growing.

My preparation list quickly expanded — health, diet, skincare, hair care, public presentation... and then came the real challenge: wardrobe and makeup.

This was unfamiliar territory. Having lived most of my life believing 'work is worship,' my usual attire was a simple, makeup-free look — practical, comfortable, and efficient. I knew almost nothing about makeup.

Naturally, I asked myself: Why is makeup so important? Isn’t beauty internal? Of course, true beauty lies within. But in a pageant, where every look is a message and every moment a performance, it's not just about inner grace. It's also about presence, confidence, and commanding your space under the spotlight.

This is where the phrase 'makeup to make up' fits perfectly. Makeup isn’t a mask — it’s a mirror to who we’re becoming. It enhances, not hides. It celebrates, not covers. It allows us to shine boldly, elegantly, and unapologetically.

I soon realized makeup is more than color on skin. It’s a tool, a language, and sometimes a shield. It's part of what I call the elegance essentials — the power of presentation in a pageant.

So yes, in this world, we do use makeup to 'make up' — not for any lack, but with purpose. These glow rules reflect the inner strength of our soul.

Makeup enhances what the lights may dim. It adds definition and depth to our personality — as seen from afar. But beyond the visual, it’s also a ritual. A calming, centering, empowering process. A quiet moment of transformation where you look in the mirror and say to yourself, “You are ready.”

Makeup should never become a mask — it shouldn’t and it can’t. Judges look for authenticity, and they can see through anything superficial. But when used mindfully, this flawless formula becomes an artistic and powerful way to tell your story.

When the lights hit the ramp, what we wear isn’t just foundation or gloss. We wear our journey, our courage, our spirit. We wear our dreams.

Personally, makeup has helped me embrace parts of myself I’d once ignored. My once-shy smile now seeks to shine proudly under a swipe of gloss. That’s why I now call it my Pageant Protocol.

A quick crash course, a few honest attempts, and some expert guidance led me to gather what I now share with you — my very own Glamour Guide.