For 23-year-old Aishwarya
Sheoran — model, Miss India finalist, UPSC rank holder — the world of glamour
was just a detour, the goal was always academic excellence. The All India Rank
93 in the Civil Services Examination and Femina Miss India 2016 finalist was
busy with household chores when the results came in.

“I wasn’t expecting the result on the 4th. I thought the
result would come next week, but somebody messaged my brother about the results
and he said , ‘didi you got 93 rank’ and I was shocked . Thanks to coronavirus,
I was sweeping the floor and cleaning the house  when the news came and I
was shocked,” she told Opoyi.

Talking about her modeling career, this daughter of a
homemaker and an Army colonel says, “I think the story  which has
been circulating in the media is that I took a break from  modeling to get
into the civil services. it is the other way around. I was always a studious
student who took a break from her studies , got time in her  college to
pursue other dreams that she had  and then got back into whatever my
 ultimate goal was. So I think modeling was the deviation and actually
track was always this,” she said.

Aishwarya Sheoran was also the Miss India finalist and walked the ramp for many designers (Photo credit: Aishwarya Sheoran)

“Modeling  was always a hobby and I never did it full
time. While I was in college I never missed my classes or anything and when I
didn’t have any exams or was on break,  I used to go for these fashion
shows and my family has been supportive throughout,” she added.

Ever since the UPSC results came in, Aishwaryas’s phone
hasn’t stopped ringing. However, after the initials burst of excitement, the
feeling has now sunk in and she says she wants to serve people.

“It’s like a dream come true for me. I always wanted to be in
service where I can actually help  and contribute to the society and now
that the  dream is going to be fulfilled so my entire family is happy they
are proud of me,” said Aishwarya.

It makes Aishwarya very happy that her story is inspiring so
many people.“You know I feel honored  that I am getting so much love and
adulation and the way people  are taking it. There are so many
 people  who are getting inspired to try out different things beyond  their
boundaries. Their family will also support them now. I feel that with
dedication you can achieve everything so I think if my story is spreading this
particular message then  I am on cloud nine because this is the whole idea
. No matter where you come from as long as you stick to your routes , as long
as you remember what your values are, you can achieve anything so that is my
journey,” said Aishwarya.

And she thanked her parents with her in whatever she did. “In
all my shows, my parents used to sit in the front row , watch them , record
them and they were so proud of me. That has been my journey. When my father was
posted in Mumbai two years back , I thought this is the time I can prepare as
my graduation is  done and I am eligible for the service now. I started
preparing and cleared in one year,” said the young star who is originally from
Rajasthan.

She also believes that with girls doing so well in every
field, it’s time to stop judging them just on their beauty. “Beauty is not what
you see from outside… Nothing can be as beautiful as an intelligent brain and
good and pure heart and I think if you have it then anybody can be beautiful.
This entire myth has to be broken. I think it’s time we stop judging a book by
its cover,” she said.