Arza Safiya
StoryInfinity for Daijiworld
Mangaluru, Sep 14: This 67-year-old mother of four has never shied from taking up opportunities that came knocking on her door. Hence, post retirement when she got a chance to contest in a beauty pageant, she did not hesitate even for a second to participate and went all the way to winning the title Mrs India-Karnataka in the ‘Super Classic’ (Above 60) category.
On September 16, Juliet Mascarenhas Pereira will walk the ramp in Chennai as part of the Mrs India grand finale. She is representing Karnataka in the above 60 years category and seems pretty confident that she will make a mark.
“Back in the 70’s, we did not have such opportunities that youth toady have. If given a chance in my youth, I would not have hesitated to contest,” says Pereira.
When Mrs Mangalore beauty pageant was announced, Juliet was encouraged to take part by Deepak Ganguly of Pathway and Mercy Vena D’Souza of Mercy Salon. Here, she won the runner-up. She next took part in the Mrs India-Karnataka pageant held in June, which was divided into three age categories such as 22 - 40, 40- 60 and 60 and above.
Juliet won three accolades in the beauty pageant. Aside from being crowned Mrs India-Karnataka Super Classic, she was crowned the Mrs Most Popular where she had garnered more than 85% of the votes as well as Mrs Confident.
“In Mrs India-Karnataka, we had many interesting rounds. We had a fitness round, where we had to dress-up and present a sport or fitness activity. While other contestants dressed up as cricket and tennis stars, I dressed up as a WWF champion. Many appreciated me for doing this,” she says.
In talent round, Juliet put up a cabaret performance and danced to the tunes of KGF song, ‘Jokae nanu balli minchu.’ In the evening wear round, Juliet dazzled in a blue gown after which she was crowned Mrs India-Karnataka.
At present, Juliet is in Chennai to take part in Mrs India grand finale. Various rounds have already begun before the grand finale, she tells Daijiworld.
Juliet a resident of Bejai, graduated from St Agnes College, after which she took up a job in Vijaya Bank. Her career which spanned for 40 years, took her to various places in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Juliet retired as a Chief Branch Manager of Vijaya Bank.
However, post her retirement, she has always remained active offering social service and participating in volunteering activities. She has served as the treasurer of Rachana Catholic Chamber of Commerce, as ex-director of Maco Co-Operative Society Ltd, ex-committee member of Agnesian Alumni Association, president of Lions Club-Balmatta for which she was awarded ‘Excellent President Award’ from Lions International President, extension chairperson of Lions Club Centennial Club.
To make other senior citizens active, she started a Senior Citizen’s Welfare Association for Bejai church parishioners in 2017. Thanks to her, more than 250 senior citizens get together and actively participate in cultural activities and competitions.
Full of life, Juliet has always excelled, be it as a student, a banker, a wife or a mother. Juliet is married to Mark Pereira and has three sons, Chester (aged 42), Lester (aged 37) Aster (aged 34) who are all engineers and a daughter, Nikita (aged 32) who is a post graduate.
“My family is my biggest support. They encourage me in everything I do. My children are ecstatic that their mum is a beauty pageant winner,” she laughs.