My Indian origin is a big part of me: Priyanka Yoshikawa

She’s a licensed elephant trainer, loves kickboxing and cooks Indian curries like a pro, this year’s Miss World Japan 2016, Priyanka Yoshikawa has triggered a debate across the world with critics calling the national beauty pageants to choose only “pure” races for the title. Being a half-Japanese and half-Indian or a haafu, as the Japanese call it, this highly versatile 22-year-old speaks about how she has the qualities of both the countries, and that she cannot have it any other way!

“My Indian origin is very much a part of me. I get it from my father, and I love him. I would like to ask those critics who are saying that the title must have been won by a pure Japanese nationale. On what they mean by being ‘pure’ ,” questions Priyanka and adds, “I am as Japanese as anyone else, I grew up here and I cannot stop being Japanese either. I cannot think about having it any other way and my roots make me stronger, confident and comfortable. And I don’t worry much about critics and their comments.”

Quizzed on what the title of Miss World Japan means to her, she says, “The title means a lot to me, it’s something that I’ve dreamed of all my life and was working towards for a long time. It’s a chance to represent my country on a global platform; it’s very big and important to me. The response to my win has been very warm. Many in my country have shown their support to me, and interestingly, I’m also getting a lot of support from other countries as well — I feel very grateful. I want to go on to win the Miss World title for my country and bring back the result that nobody has ever before in Japan.”

After her win, international media have quoted her saying that she was treated like a ‘germ’ in Japan for being a half-Indian. Priyanka refuses to having said that, and says she was misquoted. “I didn’t exactly say that I was treated like a germ. It was not about being treated like a germ, but not being able to get along with my peers when I was young. That’s the experience I had. My identity was always there inside me, but I faced the question that goes through everyone’s mind at one point or the other in life, ‘Who am I ’ and it has nothing to do with me being mixed or anything and I think Japan has changed a lot over years, people are much more accepting and opening up,” shares Priyanka

She admits that the beauty industry is also becoming much more open, as she is the second multiracial person to win the title after Ariana Miyamoto, who was crowned Miss Japan 2015. She adds, “Many multiracial people have been achieving many great success in the world and I think the judges could see that I can represent Japan; I think they could see how Japanese I am.” She further adds that she became a part of Miss World pageant for a purpose. “In a Miss World pageant, the focus is on ‘Beauty with a purpose’. I always wanted to help underprivileged children and my experience living in India taught me about their status. So, I wanted to be a part of a bigger cause by winning this pageant, as I believe beauty is a way of living. It’s just not how you look, it’s how you act, your intelligence, and what we have inside ourselves — our real self,” she says, adding that she would be in India by the end of this year to set up a children’s care home.

There’s also an ardent reader, an art therapist and an elephant lover in this beauty queen. “I have always loved elephants since I was little and on a trip to Laos I found out that I could get a license to train elephants. I went there and got it — it is always great fun working with elephants. When I am not around elephants, one can find me reading or painting. Colours and paints have always been integral part of my life. I also enjoy kickboxing. It’s a fun way of working out to keep oneself fit,” Priyanka shares.

The fluent Bengali, Japanese and English speaker goes on to say, “I also love cooking Indian curries. But I think my dad cooks the best curries!”

Is she eyeing at an entry into Indian cinema, we ask — “At this point, I am focusing on the Miss World competition at Washington DC later in December this year. My focus at the moment is not on movies, but in the future, if I get a chance, I would love to work in Indian movies. Varun Dhawan is someone I would love to work with. But for now, I would like to represent my country with confidence, love and passion,” Priyanka says, expressing hope for a win.