Sometimes, the biggest battles are the ones nobody sees.
When I think about the days when I first started planning Crown of Courage, I sometimes wonder how I managed to do it all!
Honestly, I had never organised a pageant before. I didn’t know where to begin, whom to approach or even what all went into putting together an event of this scale. All I had was an idea, a lot of enthusiasm and the belief that if I decided to do something, I would find a way to make it happen.
I started meeting people, exploring possibilities and even stalking a few social media pages to understand the ABCs of the pageant world. There was so much to learn, and I was learning as I went along. I had no blueprint to follow, no big team to fall back on and certainly no idea of the challenges waiting for me.
Initially, people seemed excited about the idea. I travelled to different cities, met people, discussed possibilities and came back hopeful. But the real test began when I started following up, especially for sponsorships.
People would express interest, say yes and give me hope that things were falling into place. I would feel relieved for a moment and start planning accordingly. But when it was time to take things forward, some of them would become unreachable. Calls went unanswered, follow-ups brought no clarity, and I was left wondering whether I should keep waiting or start all over again.
The event couldn’t wait indefinitely. Dates were fixed, arrangements had to be made and expenses had to be taken care of. I couldn’t put everything on hold because someone who had agreed to help was no longer responding.
There were moments when I had to put aside my disappointment, pick up the phone again and approach someone else. Gradually, I realised that I had to fight my own battle.
There were days when I felt like a woman with a hundred hands. One moment, I was thinking about social media content to attract registrations; the next, I was preparing lists of potential sponsors and figuring out whom to approach. There was always something waiting for my attention.
I would have loved to have a big team, but this was my first season, and everything needed money. Meanwhile, the expenses kept adding up. A four-day stay at a five-star hotel, a grand stage, a long ramp, LED screens, trussing and so many other arrangements came with costs that I had not fully anticipated in the beginning.
Even when the photoshoots, grooming sessions and swimsuit shoot were going well, my mind was often occupied with sponsor follow-ups. While everyone was enjoying the preparations, I was thinking about what still needed to be arranged and how I would make everything work. I kept smiling and carrying on, but only I knew the pressure I was dealing with behind the scenes.
And then came the grand finale.
Seeing everything come together was a feeling I cannot quite describe. The appreciation from those who attended and from people who watched the event on social media meant a great deal to me. It was a moment of happiness and relief, knowing that all the effort had finally taken shape.
Looking back, Crown of Courage has taught me lessons I could never have learnt from a book. I have learnt to be more careful about whom I trust, to look beyond enthusiastic words and to value people who stand by their commitments.
For Season 2, I want to build a dependable team, work with the right people and put stronger systems in place. I am going into this season with more experience, greater clarity and a much better understanding of what it takes to bring such a vision to life.
I am proud of what I managed to create. Not because everything went smoothly, but because it didn’t—and I still found a way.
Perhaps that is what Crown of Courage has really meant to me. I began with an idea and little knowledge of the pageant world. I faced disappointments, learnt things the hard way and discovered that I could handle far more than I had imagined.
Because sometimes, before you can give someone a crown, life makes sure you earn your own.
Shared By : APARNA MISHRA
Authors bio :
Founder of WomenShine and WomenShine Chamber of Entrepreneurship.
For over three decades, Aparna has worked across corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, women empowerment and community building. Through Aparna’s Perspective, she shares reflections on business, leadership and life.
