We were lucky to catch up with Anita Purandare recently and have shared our conversation below.

Anita, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I have taken was stepping into the pageant world seriously and allowing myself to dream beyond my comfort zone. I had participated in pageants in India before, but moving to the U.S. and competing at a higher level felt completely different. There were moments when I questioned myself as Anita whether I was too late, whether I could balance family responsibilities, public expectations, preparation, and still confidently stand on stage. What people usually see is the crown and the final moment, but behind it there were months of hard work, practice, fitness, learning stage presence, working on my story, styling, specially story themes costumes, and building confidence from within. There were also emotional challenges because pageantry is not only about appearance, it tests your discipline, communication, resilience, and self belief too. Taking that risk changed my life in many ways. I stopped limiting myself and started believing that women should never feel restricted by age, background, or any life stage when it comes to pursuing their dreams. Winning the title of Mrs. Universe Washington USA 2024-2025 brought recognition, media opportunities, invitations as a VIP guest at some events, and the chance to inspire other women. But more importantly, it gave me confidence and purpose.

Today, beyond fashion and styling , Trends which I truly love, I also enjoy volunteering for nonprofit causes, connecting with people, and using my platform to encourage women to believe in themselves. Looking back, taking that risk was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Anita Purandare, proudly holding the title of Mrs Universe Washington USA 2024-2025. My journey has always been driven by passion, creativity, confidence, dedication and the desire to inspire others. Fashion and trend curation have been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I love exploring trends, creating looks, and expressing personality through style, but for me true beauty is also about confidence, kindness, devotion and the way you uplift people around you.

My journey into pageantry started with a dream and a strong belief in myself. I participated in several pageants from India to the United States, and every experience helped me grow personally and professionally. Competing on larger platforms taught me discipline, resilience, communication, and how to carry myself with confidence under pressure. Winning the title opened many new opportunities for me including magazine features, public appearances, and invitations in events.

Apart from fashion and pageantry, I am also passionate about volunteering and supporting nonprofit initiatives. I believe in using my platform to spread positivity, encourage women empowerment, and inspire people to follow their dreams no matter what stage of life they are in. One thing that sets me apart is that I try to stay authentic and relatable. I want women to know that success is not only about glamour, it is about hard work, consistency, believe in yourself, and staying grounded.

I am most proud of the journey itself and the person I have become through it. Behind every achievement, I have had an incredible support system. My mom has always been my biggest inspiration and strength. My husband, Prasad, who works in IT, has supported me endlessly throughout this journey and encouraged me to dream bigger. My friends have constantly motivated me and stood beside me during every important step. And of course, my pet Zeus brings so much joy, comfort, and positivity into my life and keeps me smiling even during stressful moments.

More than anything, I want people to remember me as someone who inspires confidence, spreads positivity, and encourages others to believe in themselves. My mission is to show that with dedication, family support, and self-confidence, anything is possible.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes, absolutely, The biggest mission driving my creative journey is inspiring people, especially women, to believe in themselves and never feel limited by age, background, or life circumstances. I want my journey to remind others that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams, rediscover yourself, and confidently step into a new chapter of life.
For me, fashion, styling, and pageantry are much more than glamour. They are forms of self expression, storytelling, and creativity. I enjoy creating looks that reflect personality, emotions, and purpose rather than simply following trends. Every stage appearance during my journey was created with intention and meaning behind it.
During the competition, there were two outfit rounds that were especially meaningful to me. The first was the story themed costume round, where I selected a designer costume gown that reflected the message and creativity I wanted to present on stage. The second was the final gown round, where I chose an elegant gown from Macy’s that made me feel confident, graceful, and authentic to myself. Preparing for these rounds involved much more than simply choosing outfits, it included fittings, styling concepts, props, accessories, practice sessions, and many long drives to bring every detail together exactly the way I had envisioned.

One of my goals through this journey is also to show that creativity can have meaning and impact. I believe fashion can inspire confidence, empowerment, and even awareness around important causes. That is something I hope to continue using my platform for in the future.

Winning the title of Mrs Universe Washington USA 2024-2025 gave me an opportunity to connect with more people and share my story on a larger platform, but beyond recognition, my true mission is to inspire others to trust themselves, embrace their individuality, and never be afraid to start something new.
At this stage in my life, my mission is simple to continue growing, creating, inspiring, and proving that confidence and purpose can evolve beautifully at any age.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being creative is the ability to tell stories and connect with people in a meaningful way. I have always loved fashion and curating unique looks, not only because of the beauty and elegance behind it, but because creativity has the power to express emotions, values, and personal experiences without saying a word.
One of the things I enjoy most is the entire process behind creating a vision. During my pageant journey, every detail mattered to me from selecting the right gown to planning styling, accessories, props, and presentation. I spent so much time exploring ideas, going on long drives for props and fittings, and working on different elements to make sure everything reflected my personality authentically. For me, creativity is not about perfection, it’s about creating something with intention and heart.

I also love using fashion as a way to support meaningful causes. One of the most personal moments during my journey was presenting a costume inspired by breast cancer awareness, something that deeply connected with me from my experience supporting the Amoena mastectomy bra program during my time in fashion retail at Nordstrom. That experience reminded me that fashion can go beyond trends it can represent strength, healing, awareness, and empowerment.

Winning the title of Mrs Universe Washington USA 2024-2025 gave me an opportunity to share my journey with more people, but what means the most to me is when someone tells me they felt inspired or more confident after hearing my story. Those moments make everything worthwhile.

Creativity has also taught me confidence and self-growth. It constantly pushes me to evolve, trust my instincts, and stay open to new experiences. Today, I see creativity as a reflection of individuality and purpose, and I hope to continue using my platform to inspire positivity, confidence, and authenticity in others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shriaviralfashionista
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-purandare

Image Credits

Main feature image and pink gown image by

Credit – Vivid Pursuit Digitals

Another five images

Credit – lexieb.photographs