Hyderabad, Aug. 28 -- Seven months after becoming a mother, when most women are still finding their rhythm in a completely new chapter of life, Hyderabad's Fasiha Nauman decided to chase a dream she had carried for years. With an infant at home and a national pageant waiting, she stepped onto the Miss Universe India 2026 stage, not just as a contestant, but as a mother determined to prove that motherhood does not have to mean putting your dreams on hold.

Fasiha, a Hyderabad-based model, influencer and MBA graduate, represented Andhra Pradesh at the Miss Universe India 2026 grand finale in Jaipur. She had earned the opportunity after being crowned Miss Universe Andhra Pradesh 2026 in June.

While the coveted national crown eventually went...