Hindi showbiz ang tatahakin ni 2015 Miss Grand International 3rd runner-up Parul Shah, kundi balik siya sa pagiging isang nurse.
Bukod sa pagiging 4th placer sa international pageant na ginanap nitong Linggo, October 25, sa Bangkok, Thailand, nasungkit din ng pambato ng Pilipinas ang Best in National Gown award para sa kasuotang likha ng local fashion designer na si Edwin Uy.
Sabi ng 27-anyos Filipino-Indian beauty queen, “You will have your honour and prestige all your life, but you still have to make a decent living.
"I have a fallback, that’s nursing. I’ll be a flight nurse and if God wishes for it.”
Open daw si Parul sa pagkakaroon ng guest appearances sa mga TV shows, subalit hindi ang tuluy-tuloy na pagpasok sa showbiz.
“I could do guesting, but I really want to be a nurse. I want to travel the world like a flight nurse.”
Hindi raw intensiyon ni Parul na gawing stepping stone sa pagpasok sa showbiz ang pagsali niya sa beauty pageants, gaya ng ginawa ng maraming beauty queens.
“I didn’t join beauty pageants just so that it would be my stepping stone to enter showbiz.
"I joined beauty pageants only because it was my dream since I was a little girl, and I didn’t want it to be a jumping board to showbiz."
Sa Dubai raw balak magtrabaho bilang nurse ni Parul.
Na-enjoy nga raw ni Parul ang pagsali niya sa Miss Grand International.
“I had so much fun with the girls, travelling around.
"So, at the end of the day, if a show is what they want, a show is what they’ll get.
"Dapat performer ka, hindi ka lang dapat ganda."
May supporters na nagsasabing deserving si Parul na magkaroon ng mas mataas na puwesto dahil sa ipinakita niyang husay sa pageant.
Sundot na tanong ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), masaya ba siya sa kanyang nakamit na puwesto sa Miss Grand International?
“Yes, happy ako, because all the five of us are already winners sa sagot namin. It was her night,” pagtukoy niya sa nanalong si Miss Dominican Republic (Anea Garcia).
First runner-up si Claire Parker (Australia), 2nd runner-up si Vartika Singh (India), at 4th runner-up si Rattikorn Kunsom (Thailand).