Priyanka Chopra is my lucky charm: Pooja Chopra

Pooja, who will represent India at the international beauty pageant, thinks that she has a connection with the star in more ways than one.

"Priyanka is my lucky charm. She had performed at the Miss India pageant in which I won the Miss India World title. She was the main lead in 'Fashion' - the film I made my first brief appearance in and now she is at Miss World, bringing me luck a third time," Pooja told PTI in an email interview from Johannesburg.

She might be excited about Priyanka bringing her luck but Pooja's inspiration behind becoming a beauty queen is former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen.
"I have always had the highest regard for Sushmita Sen. She's been an epitome of class, elegance - very suave. She's carried herself so beautifully all these years," said Pooja, who will be seen putting her best foot forward at the contest to be aired on Zee Cafe on December 12.

But the list doesn't end there - Pooja, 24, has become an admirer of former Miss World Aishwariya Rai too.
"Having been here in Johannesburg, I have genuinely begun idolizing Aishwarya Rai. She is remembered even today as the most successful Miss World ever!," said the Pune-based girl.

Just like her predecessors, Pooja does not rule out possibilities of going the Bollywood way after the contest.
"A plethora of options will open up if I win. Right now its too soon to tell if I will step into Bollywood, though I am not ruling it out," she said.
A commerce graduate from Pune University, Pooja never dreamt of becoming a beauty queen as she was quite a tomboy in her teens.

"I was a tomboy throughout school and always wanted to be an IAS officer. Kiran Bedi was quite an influence. It was after my 10th board exams that my sister insisted that I participate in personality contests and beauty pageants," she said.
The beauty contestant has been living the "life of a princess" ever since she won the Miss India World title. She has also met a number of international dignitaries including South African President Jacob Zuma.

"Rather teasingly, I asked him whether he'd vote for me or Miss South Africa, to which he candidly said - Oh if I were to be politically correct, I'd vote for Miss South Africa. But since you're such a lovely girl, I'd like to vote for you too'," Pooja said.

Winning the contest is the top priority for Pooja now and she wants to work for providing better education and basic nutrition to impoverished children in the country.
"I feel most strongly about issues of education and basic nutrition for children. Since charity begins at home, I'll most certainly start my charitable work in India," Pooja said.