Miss India-Universe Tanushree Dutta was one of the 10 finalists but the title eluded her

Jamshedpur, June 2: She aimed high and tried her best to realise her dreams. But Lady Luck did not smile on Tanushree Dutta as she failed to win the coveted Miss Universe title at Quito in Ecuador.

A heartbroken and inconsolable Tanushree has reportedly taken the first flight back to Mumbai, giving the celebratory post-pageant party the miss.

After the show, she called up her parents, saying: “Aar Miss Universe jeette parbona (I will not be able to win the Miss Universe crown again).”

But her parents and relatives know in their hearts that their beloved Chumki’s efforts will bear fruit someday. “Tanushree has been crying like a baby over her failure since morning and nothing can pacify her. We, too, called her up but perhaps she needs time to get over the disappointment,” said Tapan Kumar Dutta, her father.

“We feel that she had given her very best and the rest was not in our hands. The competition was tough and she put up a brave front. What more could we ask for?” he reasoned. “Now that her work is done and she has nothing more to do for her nation there, she has decided to leave for Mumbai right away,” Tapan said. “Had Tanushree made it to the top five and got the opportunity to show her intelligence in the question-answer round, she would have stood a better chance,” said Chumki’s mother Shikha Dutta.

“Though we are a bit upset, probably due to our high expectations, we reckon the world does not end with this failure. Of course, she will not get this opportunity ever again and that pains her the most,” she added. Tanushree’s quest for the coveted crown begun four months ago with the formal training session for the Miss India contest in February. Tanushree has been interested in fashion and modelling since her college days in BMCC, Pune.

“When all her friends and classmates used to have fun in discos and parties, Tanushree used to hunt for a good agency or a fashion institute to train herself in ramp walking and modelling. I remember she didn’t have fans in her hostel but she never complained,” Shikha recollected.

“All the other models of her stature come from more posh family backgrounds. But for Tanushree, the journey has been longer. Brought up in a conservative Bengali family, she didn’t get the opportunity to learn swimming or move around in uptown clubs,” she revealed. “She scaled such heights through sheer hard work. After winning the Miss Pune title, she was offered a free membership at a city club there, which had a gym and a swimming pool. She also visited the British library to hone her general awareness through intensive reading,” she added.

Tanushree’s younger sister Ishita, though disappointed, has not broken down. “I am satisfied with her efforts and we will always be there to support her,” she said.

The family will travel to Mumbai to persuade Tanushree to come here for a few days.