Imlibenla Wati, representing India in Miss Super Talent of the World, recounts her journey so far
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | October 23
As the much awaited ‘Miss Super Talent of the World’ contest (formerly known as Miss Asia Pacific) approaches, Miss Asia Pacific Super Talent India 2016 Imlibenla Wati calmly sits at home in Mokokchung and reminisces about times past and the events in her life that led up to this moment. She will be representing India at the world acclaimed beauty pageant scheduled to be held in Korea later this year.
Her first stint at any national level competition was at a Science Exhibition in 2010 where she represented Nagaland after winning the state level competition. She recounts that experience as a breaking out moment for her where she got to taste the experience of nation-wide contests albeit a much different platform.
From a very young age, Imlibenla admits, she has been drawn towards humanitarian causes and her heartstrings were always pulled when she came across human sufferings in any form. After being crowned the runner-up of Miss Mokokchung in 2012, she organized and sponsored a worship night where the gathering, mostly young people, were spiritually uplifted through soul searching worship. From then on, she has been busy doing charitable works in whatever capacity she can like visiting various orphanages, old homes, hospitals and jails. She has also organized health camps in places like the district jail and most recently at Changki, her native village, where more than 300 patients were treated. She has also visited slum areas in Dimapur and distributed food and clothes to the needy. She also makes it a point to carry loose change with her wherever she goes to give to beggars in the streets. She says that she tries to save as much money as she can from the limited sources of income she has as a student and as a struggling artiste to fund her charitable works. She gives credit to her friends, family and well-wishers whose support has been unwavering since the beginning.
On being asked about the upcoming international contest, she admits that she feels like an underdog. Since Miss Super Talent of the World is a unique contest where individual talent is to be showcased, she has been taking singing and drumming classes to hone her “inadequate skills.” She is aware that the contestants from other countries will have the upper-hand since they have superior facilities to aid their practice and experts to groom them, yet she is undeterred in her belief that God will help her.
India has a good track record in the Miss Super Talent contest. Noted film actress Zeenat Aman won the title in 1970 followed by Bollywood diva Dia Mirza in 2000. Most recently, Himangini Singh Yadav, Shrishti Rana, Shweta Raj have all brought home the crown at different times.
For the first time in the history of Miss Super Talent, a face from the North East region will be representing India. As Imlibenla makes history, she expresses her delight at the fact that she hails from the same village of Changki, as that of Dr. T. Ao, the legendary Naga football player who made history in 1948 as captain of the Indian national football team at the London Olympics, the first and only time that Indian football team has made it to the Olympics.
Imlibenla will be leaving home very soon for the contest scheduled to begin from November 21, 2016 with the finale scheduled for December 3, 2016 in Seoul, Korea.
