Mrs UAE World Debanjali Kamstra – in pictures

  • Kamstra, 35, an Indian businesswoman and mother-of-two, has called the UAE home for the past 14 years. All photos by Mahmoud Marei, Syed Kamran Ali unless stated otherwise
    Kamstra, 35, an Indian businesswoman and mother-of-two, has called the UAE home for the past 14 years. All photos by Mahmoud Marei, Syed Kamran Ali unless stated otherwise
  • Held since 1984, the Mrs World contest was cancelled in 2021 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
    Held since 1984, the Mrs World contest was cancelled in 2021 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • From left: Mrs UAE World Debanjali Kamstra, Mrs World Shaylyn Ford and Mrs Jordan World Jaclyn Stapp. Ford won the Mrs World 2021 contest, while Mrs Jordan and Mrs UAE came in second and third, respectively. Photos: Mahmoud Marei, Instagram
    From left: Mrs UAE World Debanjali Kamstra, Mrs World Shaylyn Ford and Mrs Jordan World Jaclyn Stapp. Ford won the Mrs World 2021 contest, while Mrs Jordan and Mrs UAE came in second and third, respectively. Photos: Mahmoud Marei, Instagram
  • Debanjali Kamstra in her national costume, designed by Filipino talent Cary Santiago, in the preliminary rounds of Mrs World 2022. Photo: Debanjali Kamstra
    Debanjali Kamstra in her national costume, designed by Filipino talent Cary Santiago, in the preliminary rounds of Mrs World 2022. Photo: Debanjali Kamstra
  • Debanjali Kamstra, the first Mrs UAE World, waves the UAE flag in the middle of Times Square in New York City, as she begins her journey to the US for the pageant. Photo: Debanjali Kamstra
    Debanjali Kamstra, the first Mrs UAE World, waves the UAE flag in the middle of Times Square in New York City, as she begins her journey to the US for the pageant. Photo: Debanjali Kamstra
  • Debanjali Kamstra is the first beauty queen to represent the UAE.
    Debanjali Kamstra is the first beauty queen to represent the UAE.
  • Kamstra has no previous modelling or beauty pageant experience.
    Kamstra has no previous modelling or beauty pageant experience.
  • Kamstra came in third at Mrs World, which 'celebrates the uniqueness of married women'.
    Kamstra came in third at Mrs World, which 'celebrates the uniqueness of married women'.
  • Former cabin crew with Emirates airline, Kamstra is also an architect and opened the interior design company Veloche in Dubai a decade ago.
    Former cabin crew with Emirates airline, Kamstra is also an architect and opened the interior design company Veloche in Dubai a decade ago.
  • As there has never been a Mrs UAE World before, Kamstra says her preparations for the contest were entirely self-funded.
    As there has never been a Mrs UAE World before, Kamstra says her preparations for the contest were entirely self-funded.
  • Kamstra married her husband, Christiaan, in 2012 and the couple live in Dubai with their two daughters, Victoria, 6, and Tiffany, 5.
    Kamstra married her husband, Christiaan, in 2012 and the couple live in Dubai with their two daughters, Victoria, 6, and Tiffany, 5.
  • Kamstra says she now hopes to bring Mrs World to the UAE.
    Kamstra says she now hopes to bring Mrs World to the UAE.
  • Kamstra says she would like to be a part of setting up an organisation that works to send participants to the Mrs World competition in the future.
    Kamstra says she would like to be a part of setting up an organisation that works to send participants to the Mrs World competition in the future.