Mohana Prabha was crowned Miss Universe Singapore 2019 at Zouk, Singapore on 17th October 2019. She is soon going to represent the country at Miss Universe 2019 which will be held on December 8, 2019 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. Catriona Gray of the Philippines will crown her successor by the end of the event. Mohana is 24 years of age and is a graduate of biomedical science.
After completing her training in Manila, Mohana Prabha thanked her Philippine team of mentors, led by beauty queen maker Jonas Gaffud who whipped her into top competitive form. Gaffud is an accomplished pageant expert who groomed successful Filipino beauty queens Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss World 2013 Megan Lynne Young, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, and a lot more. He was appointed by the Miss Universe Organization in New York as Creative Consultant for the Miss Universe Philippines and Miss Universe Singapore brand.
Gaffud presented Mohana to a send-away event held at Empire Studios, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig Citypress on Monday afternoon, 25th November 2019. The diva posed in popular designer Michael Cinco’s gown as her national costume. She will parade with it in the 2019 Miss Universe. “He (Gaffud) pampers me,” said Mohana, as she smiled when asked about her training with Gaffud, during the event. Mohana thanked Gaffud and his team who trained her in pasarella, question-and-answer, stage presence, and other pageant-related preparations. She was accompanied in Manila by Miss Universe Singapore national director Valerie Lim.
The Singaporean beauty said that it was time for her country to be recognized again in the prestigious pageant. Singapore has been sending candidates in Miss Universe since 1954. In 1983, Singapore entered the top 12 for the first time. Then it was placed in the top 10 in 1987. It wasn’t the first time that Mohana competed in Miss Universe Singapore pageant. In 2018, she joined the national competition, and finished only in the top 5. This time, she joined again and won.
Asked about her closest rival in Miss Universe contest, Mohana said: “My closest rival is myself.” Mohana also advised women, never to give up on things they are passionate about. “Try and try until you succeed. Never give up on things you are passionate about. Otherwise, try something else,” the short-haired beauty queen said.
Mohana said that she wants to advocate diversity and reduce the world’s carbon footprint. An ethnic Indian minority in Singapore, Mohanaprabha Selvam strongly advocates for equality and inclusivity. Her humble upbringing inspired her to be an active volunteer for the Singapore Red Cross for over eight years. In 2010, she was part of a youth mission to Tamil Nadu, India which built a common space for the villagers in the countryside. She recently obtained a Biomedical Science degree and aspires to work towards promoting sustainable food and businesses to improve the lives of people and communities. To her, food can be a unifying force that makes an inclusive and equal world possible. It brings together families, cultures and societies. As a full-time model and spokesperson, she empowers and inspires her community to embrace self-confidence and be proud of their heritage and backgrounds.