Eleven year old Satavisha Das is already a known model. At a time when girls of her age are busy playing video games and hanging out with friends, she is busy earning laurels in the fashion world. Satavisha, a Class VI student of Sai International School, participated in the World Final of the Junior Model International held in Dubai from October 1 to 5, 2018 along with 72 participants from 18 countries. She won three titles, Best Introduction, Best Interview and Best in Talent.
Earlier, she was picked from among 890 contestants to represent the country at the coveted event after winning the People Choice Title at the Junior Model International 2018 held in Kozhikode, Kerala.
Born to social activist Subhashree Das and , legal consultant Bikash Das, Satavisha was inspired by Padmalaya Nanda who represented India at the Little Miss Universe beauty pageant in 2017. “I was greatly inspired by Padmalaya who won the Junior Model International, World Final in 2017. She was from Odisha too. I went through one of Padmalaya’s interviews and was very impressed. Padmalaya’s success in the international pageant provided me the much-needed confidence to go for the Dubai pageant. Thanks to support from my mother and dance guru Sonali Mohapatra, I reached the final. I would also like to thank my mother’s friend Sarada Bharati, who groomed me for the event.”
In Kerala, there were six rounds —title, talent, ball gown, sports, jury, and self-introduction. Prior to the final round, the participants were groomed for two days. In the talent round, Satavisha performed a Sambalpuri folk dance ‘Kala Megha Janha’ while the other participants danced to Bollywood songs. Her Sambalpuri dance performance and other skills helped her enter the finale of the beauty pageant.
Satavisha says: “Apart from honing my dancing skills and working on personality development, I focused on improving my general knowledge, specifically about Odisha. I also brushed up my knowledge of current affairs. My style of self-introduction was appreciated by the judges. Besides, I was applauded by the judges and audience for my performance based on the song ‘Naino wale Ne’ from the movie Padmaavat. Most of the questions I was asked were analytical and I tried my best to respond to them crisply.”
Satavisha, who aims to win titles like Little Miss Universe, Little Miss World and KIIT Nanhi Pari in future, continues: “After participating in the beauty pageant held in Dubai, I must say that these pageants are not only about beauty but also talent, confidence, knowledge and personality. How confidently you present yourself matters a lot.”
After winning three sub-titles in the grand finale of the beauty pageant, she got an offer to host a show ‘Rakta Golap’ on Doordarshan to mark Children’s Day. Recently, she walked the ramp at Kia Fashion show organised by Parichaya Foundation. “Being a part of Kia fashion show was an honour for me because I walked the ramp along with slum kids. It was a sweet memory to be cherished.”
Satavisha’s achievements are not confined to beauty pageants only. She is a good Odissi dancer who enthralled audiences at the PECUC Sishu Mela, Nrutyanjali and the Naveen Kalakar dance festival among others. About her love for Odissi, she says, “I was three-years-old when I started learning the dance at Odissi Research Institute. For the last six years, I have been honing my Odissi skills under the tutelage of Sonali Ma’am. Odissi is my first love. I cherish those moments when audiences give me a standing ovation. Recently, eminent sculptor and architect Raghunath Mohapatra, who has received Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards, appreciated my expertise in dance. He was among the guests at a cultural programme held in Bhanja Kala Mandap in Bhubaneswar. After my performance based on the classical song ‘Kunja Bane,’ he came on stage and offered his blessings. He also gifted me Rs 1,000 as a mark of encouragement. It was an honour to be felicitated by such an eminent personality.”
The young model is greatly influenced by her mother who, she says, leaves no stone unturned to help the needy. “I want to be a model-cum-social activist. Besides, I have plans to set up a children’s club. It will provide a platform to less-privileged kids to showcase their hidden talents. I have come across many slum children who are verytalented but do not have the opportunity to show their skill. I would like to help such kids.”
“I liketo speak up on social causes like the condition of acid attack victims, sexual abuse of girl children and social reintegration of child labour. I use social media to reach out to a wider community with my messages on social change. I have also demonstrated my capacity in a documentary album on Raja Festival with eminent singer Susmita Dash,” adds Satavisha.
RASHMI REKHA DAS, OP