Suman Lyngdoh

Crowned Miss Shillong 2013, Suman Lyngdoh aka Sumi is elated to have achieved her dream. But the designer, who dreams of travelling to the fashion capital of the world, Paris, wants the Miss Shillong contest to become bigger so that the hill city can feature prominently on the fashion map.

A fan of former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, Suman is also all gung-ho about Khasi traditional attire like the thoh rew stem (shawl). She wants such products to be known nationally and internationally. Even in her moment under the sun, the 24-year-old is not distracted. Instead she is focussed on her target — to become an acclaimed designer. t2 spoke to Miss Shillong 2013

t2: First of all, congratulations on winning the title. How does it feel to be crowned Miss Shillong 2013?

Suman: Thank you! It feels great winning the prestigious title. It was a dream come true, and I am still in shock, but happy.

t2: Has it always been your dream to don the Miss Shillong crown?

Suman: Yes, it has always been a dream, and I am glad I have achieved it.

t2: Miss Shillong has always been a pride of this city, and is famously followed by many. At the same time, we do not see much of India’s fashion industry tying up with the organisers to popularise the event. What are the changes you suggest which should be brought into make this coveted contest more vibrant?

Suman: In my opinion, I think Shillong, being ahead of others in fashion, needs more market presence in the bigger cities. I also feel that the Fashion Society Shillong needs to organise more shows and tie up with bigger brands to uplift the fashion industry in the city.

t2: You are a fashion designer by training. Did you design your outfits for the contest?

Suman: Well, yes, I am a designer by profession and I concentrate on casuals and eveningwear. But the designs in the pageant were by a well-known designer Arif Mukhim.

t2: We see innovation in popularising the jainsem and thoh rewstem. Is it because these products are not in high demand among the local people? What more can be done to popularise this attire?

Suman: I think the Fashion Society Shillong has done a great job by displaying the thoh rewstem in one of the sequences of the fashion show. We do not see much of it, and displaying it that day has brought it into the limelight again. I believe if people display more of this, we would get more response both nationally and internationally.

t2: What are your future plans?

Suman: I want to focus more on my fashion designing and make a mark in the fashion industry. I have achieved one dream: that of becoming Miss Shillong 2013. Now I am focussing on my next target, and that is to become a top designer. Wish me luck!

Participants in the pageant

Suman Lyngdoh Tidbits

Hobbies: Sketching, modelling, dancing

Favourite beauty queen: Sushmita Sen, being a woman of substance who has not only won the title of a beauty queen but is singlehandedly raising her adopted children in spite of the various differences in culture and tradition

Dish you savour the most: Khasi dish

Favourite destination: Paris

Nickname: Sumi