Priota Farelin Iftekar, popularly known as the Flag Girl by her blog, represented Bangladesh in Miss Tourism World 2017/2018 in January 2018. As the year ends, she is now participating in Miss Culture Worldwide which will be held in Zimbabwe.
The Flag Girl is already famous in her country with her unique dream of travelling 50 countries with her soul companion – her national flag. A travel blogger, she is a Brand Ambassador at Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation. As her preparation begins to travel to another country for her next pageant, she finds time to talk about her dreams, goals and guilty pleasures in an exclusive interview with Angelopedia.
INTERVIEW
Q. What inspired you to the world of pageantry?
I love representing Bangladesh in different platform, I like the world to believe that we are champions of given any platforms. Secondly, I love how pageants define beauty. It breaks the stereotyped definition of beauty by giving women of every colour and race, equal and fair opportunities.
Q. How did representing your country in Miss Culture Worldwide pageant feel like?
It is an amazing opportunity to show how diversed Bangladesh culture is. It is going to be held in Zimbabwe so I’m also looking forward to learn about it’s culture.
Q. Who is your role model, if any, and what values of his or her do you wish you could inculcate in your own life, and teach the next generation?
My role model is my grandmother, Nurjahan Begum, she is the first female journalist of Bangladesh, a liberated woman. I learnt from her how to be 100% independent. I learnt how to empower other women, how to lift each other up.
Q. What next on the Flag Girl’s list to achieve? Please tell us about your future endeavors in pageantry.
I want to give my 100% to Miss Culture Worldwide. Since I am working for tourism and culture sector , I will organize international pageants in my country.
Q. What is the one thing that keeps you going and inspires you to be the best version of yourself?
There is nothing that I wanted to do and I didn’t make it happen. There is nothing called ‘impossible’ in my dictionary. If I want something from my heart. I will make every ends meet to achieve my goals. Love and expectation, that my country has from me , is what inspired me to be the best version of myself.
Q. Would you like to share your most special childhood memory with us?
I will never forget the day I was the youngest Bangladeshi to receive International Shankar Children’s Art Competition at the age of 3.
Q. If you could be invisible for a day, how would you like to spend it?
I would like to hope in a plane and travel to some few destinations and return on time.
Q. What or who empowers you to be yourself and work hard every day?
I keep my mother’s dream in her heart.
Q. What is the one thing you can label as your guilty pleasure?
Sleep, I can sleep anytime and anywhere , even underwater. I love to take naps.
Q. We’re sure that this competition is another milestone in your life. What is that one thing that you ultimately want to achieve?
I want to work with the biggest company of the world and take my ‘ The Flag Girl ‘ to the next level.
Q. If you are granted three wishes right now, what would you ask for?
1) I would want to see my parents and grandparents for one last time. Give my mother a proper hug and goodbye. They all left the world too early, I was traveling when my mother passed away.
2) Bangladeshi passport to be the no.1 most powerful passport of the world so we can travel with no discrimination.
3) A magic plane that will take me and girls all over the world for free.
Q. Lastly, is there any message that you would like to give to your fans of Angelopedia?
Dear fans, please open up to welcome beauty queens from all race and religion. Since pageants promote diversity, please accept Muslim women who do not prefer to wear a bikini in swimsuit round.