My Journey to Miss San Francisco: Part One

By Inika Mehra

The Validation Was Always In the Grit of the Hard Work

Becoming Miss San Francisco gave me validation— and not the kind I spent my adolescent years chasing after. Nor was it proof I was finally “good enough.” 

What it did show me was what was possible to achieve in a short amount of time, in an unfamiliar territory, with no prior experience— with a little passion in my heart, courage in my blood, and purpose in my soul.

I never expected myself to be courageous and daring enough to do something like this— in fact, my first hundred thoughts were filled with hesitancy.  

When I searched up the competition requirements I thought to myself: “There’s no way I am doing this, and there is no way I could pull this off”—but I am so glad that I did it anyway.

 It made me realize that it is actually the continuous and intentional act of pushing back against fear, exhaustion, insecurity, and self-doubt, looking it in its face, and choosing to persevere without the confirmation that it will pay off. 

I didn’t feel ready to add another failure to my life trajectory. And I knew going into it that this was a very real possibility. What were the chances that I could prepare for a five-part competition in less than a month, with no prior experience, and actually win a title? It felt like I was deliberately walking a tightrope with no safety net.

I may have won the title with less than a month of preparatory time, but the reality? The relentless work, the setbacks, and the lessons that made this win possible have been years in the making.

Failure has been my greatest training ground. I have stumbled in leadership roles, faced ridicule from peers, and struggled to speak publicly. While I have felt the raw vulnerability of shame, I have been shaped and refined by the very feeling.

It is the persistent act of pulling myself out of such depths that has grown me into a strong, compassionate, and purpose-driven leader—one who can speak to audiences and show up proudly in public.

It is only through my failures and sorrow that I have built the resilience and empathy I carry in my heart every day.

I am not ashamed of my failures,

I wear them like a badge.

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Photos By Augus Raj Photography

Inika Mehra is the current Miss San Francisco. You can find her on her title's Instagram and/or her personal Instagram. 

This is her first blog for Section 36 Forevers.