VEC Queen of India: Sunayana Raina on Crowning the Modern Queen

Sunayana Raina has a simple way of putting it, a pageant either means something or it is just a stage with better lighting. As creative head of VEC Queen of India, she has spent this edition making sure it means something. The season arrives dressed in black and gold, the tagline reads Pageant with Purpose, and the organisers have quietly rewritten who gets to walk in, not just what the season is called.

Most pageants talk about inclusivity and then quietly measure a woman anyway. VEC Queen of India has actually removed the measuring tape. Any Indian woman eighteen or above can walk in, no line drawn on height, weight, or skin tone. There are only two categories, Ms for single women and Mrs for married, separated, and widowed women, but a divorced woman gets to choose which side fits her story. Small print, perhaps, but it says more about the season than the tagline does.

Muskan Gairola of Vesna Event Crafters (VEC) runs the operation. Kirti Mishra Narang mentors the newcomers with a Mrs India Worldwide crown of her own already earned. But the woman deciding how this pageant looks, moves, and feels belongs to Sunayana Raina, the creative head, who has worn two crowns herself, Mrs India Worldwide and Mrs Bold and Beautiful. She trains for marathons in whatever time is left over, and judges contestants with the same discipline.

Grooming sessions for shortlisted contestants are already underway, and the crown gets decided at the Grand Finale in Delhi, running from the 22nd to 24th of October.

Rajeev Mokashi puts these questions to Sunayana Raina, and here is what she had to say.

What first sparked your love for fashion and storytelling? Was it instinct, discipline, or pure curiosity?

It was probably instinct first, followed by curiosity. Style and presentation have always been a natural part of my personality. Even as a young girl, there was a strong interest in how things came together and how a certain look could make someone feel.

With time, discipline gave that instinct direction, while storytelling added another layer to it. Fashion is never just about clothes. A look can communicate personality, culture, emotion and even a particular chapter in someone’s life. That ability to communicate without saying too much is what makes fashion so interesting.

VEC Queen of India has a distinct aura. How do you ensure its visual identity feels both glamorous and authentic?

The idea is to create glamour that still feels real. Pageantry naturally has an aspirational and glamorous side, but authenticity is what makes that glamour meaningful.

VEC brings together women from different backgrounds, cultures and personalities, so there cannot be just one definition of what a queen should look or feel like. The visual identity needs to celebrate individuality while maintaining a sense of elegance and sophistication.

The objective is not to make every woman look the same, but to create a platform where each contestant can present the most confident and elevated version of herself. That balance is what gives VEC its distinct personality.

You work closely with contestants. What’s the most rewarding part of helping them discover their own confidence?

The transformation is probably the most rewarding part. Often, the biggest change isn’t visible in the clothes or photographs; it is in the way a contestant begins to carry herself.

A woman may enter the journey feeling unsure or hesitant, and gradually she starts speaking with confidence, owning her presence and becoming more comfortable with who she is. Watching that shift is incredibly fulfilling.

Confidence isn’t about becoming a different person. It is about recognising what is already within you and having the courage to bring it forward. Being able to contribute to that process is one of the most meaningful aspects of working with contestants.

As a marathon runner and fitness advocate, how does discipline in sport shape your creative vision?

Sport teaches you very quickly that motivation alone is not enough. There are days when the energy is high and days when it isn’t, but the discipline to show up still has to remain.

That mindset naturally carries into creative work. What looks effortless on stage or in a photograph usually involves a great deal of planning, consistency and attention to detail behind the scenes.

Running has also taught me to respect the process. Not every result is immediate, and meaningful transformation takes time. That understanding has been valuable not just creatively, but also in building and growing VEC.

You’re known for blending contemporary aesthetics with cultural diversity. How do you strike that balance without losing freshness?

The key is to respect the roots without feeling restricted by them. India’s cultural richness gives us an incredible foundation, but there is always room to reinterpret it in a way that feels relevant today.

Freshness often comes from the presentation, whether it is the styling, silhouettes, photography or overall visual language. Tradition doesn’t have to look dated, and modernity doesn’t have to mean losing cultural identity. The aim is to create a woman who feels rooted in her heritage but completely contemporary in the way she carries herself and expresses her individuality.

When you style and guide contestants, how do you weave empowerment into fashion choices?

Fashion works best when it makes a woman feel like herself. The most fashionable choice isn’t necessarily the trendiest one; it is the one that gives her confidence and allows her personality to come through.

While styling contestants, the focus is therefore on understanding who they are, what their strengths are and what they want to communicate. A look should enhance those qualities rather than overshadow them.

Ultimately, empowerment can be as simple as looking in the mirror and feeling, “This feels like me.” That sense of ownership is far more powerful than simply following a trend.

As a jury member, what qualities make you pause and say, ‘This is a modern queen’?

A modern queen needs to have much more than beauty. Confidence, intelligence, emotional strength and authenticity are equally important.

The ability to communicate and connect with people also matters greatly. There has to be substance behind the presence. Someone who is willing to learn, evolve and handle different situations with grace naturally stands out.

Then there is presence, that quality where someone walks into a room and naturally draws attention without demanding it. When confidence, character, intelligence and presence come together, that is what defines a modern queen.

You’ve worn the crown yourself Mrs India Worldwide and Mrs Bold & Beautiful. How did those experiences shape the way you now guide and judge others?

Having experienced pageantry from the other side of the stage gives a very different perspective. The excitement is there, but so are the pressure, expectations and vulnerability that come with being judged.

Those experiences also showed me how transformative the right guidance can be. A pageant is not simply about winning a title; it can become a journey of personal growth, confidence and self-discovery.

That is something I try to keep in mind when working with contestants today. The focus isn’t only on how someone performs on a particular day, but also on her journey, her potential and the person she can grow into. Wearing the crown has also made one thing very clear: a title is only the beginning. What truly matters is how a woman uses the platform, the responsibility and the influence that come with it.

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