Chennai: Twenty-one-year-old Prahitya M, a resident of Ashok Nagar, participated in his maiden men’s beauty pageant at the Chennai International Youth Fest ’18 (CIYF – 2.0), and won the Mr Chennai International Handsome of the Year 2018 title recently.
The fest, that was held at Mayajaal, was organised by the Youth Development Consortium (YDC) and supported by the government.
Prahitya was bubbling with energy and confidence when News Today met him at his residence. We spoke to Prahitya, a final-year engineering student, to know about the secret behind his success and plans for the future.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. Tell us about the title and how you got it.
A. I was on cloud nine on winning the title. It has given me the confidence to eye the Mr India title. There were four rounds – ethnic, self-introductory, western wear and question & answer session.
The Q&A session impressed the judges. The question was – What if you wake up tomorrow and you become a woman. How do you feel and what would you do?
My answer was – I would be grateful. I will be experiencing the entire perspective of a woman. After switching back to man, I would authentically be able to tell people what it feels to be a woman and how a woman is treated by men on a day-to-day basis.
Q: What is the secret behind your fitness?
A: I am a typical Iyer boy and strict vegetarian. After entering engineering college, I focused on fitness. I chart out my own diet and follow it. I take a lot of vegetables, including paneer, peanut butter, rajma, sprouts, whey protein, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes and bananas.
Q: Who is your trainer?
A: There is no trainer. I learnt everything through the Internet. I joined a gym and worked out myself.
Q: What made you take up modelling?
A: I had a passion for modelling from childhood. I want to convey to youth that we can balance studies and modelling and be successful in both.
Q: Who is your favourite male model?
A. Rohit Khandelwal, who became the first Asian to win the title of Mr World in 2016.
Q: Are you into commercial modelling and planning to enter the cine field?
A: Yes, I am into commercial modelling and if opportunity comes my way, I will get into cinema.
Q: Will you use modelling for social causes?
A: If that opportunity comes my way, I will definitely take it up as it reaches a large section of people.
Q: Tell us about your family.
A: My father, B Mahavir, is a Maths Professor and HoD at A M Jain College and my mother, Kalaranjani Mahavir, works as assistant general manager, Reserve Bank of India, Bengaluru. My sister Hardhika Mahavir and aunt Meera Srikanth helped me a lot to shine in modelling.
Q: What are you planning ahead?
A: As of now there are no plans. But I would like to focus on Artificial Intelligence and want to become a data scientist.
Prahitya resides at No. 6, First Cross Street, Raghavan Colony, Jafferkhanpet, Ashok Nagar. Ph: 90030 30138 and email: [email protected].