Crowned and commissioned: Kashish Methwani makes history

At just 24, Kashish Methwani has already carved a path that defies conventional expectations. From winning the Miss International India 2023 crown to earning an MSc in Neuroscience and now being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army’s Air Defence, her journey is a testament to ambition, discipline, and versatility. Kashish has consistently chosen a life of “ands” rather than “ors,” refusing to limit herself to a single path and excelling in multiple domains simultaneously.

Her early foundation came from the National Cadet Corps (NCC), where she learned discipline, resilience, and leadership. Awarded the All India Best Cadet Trophy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021, Kashish transformed her NCC experiences into a serious commitment to the armed forces. It was during this period that she realized her calling to serve her country, while also nurturing her academic and creative pursuits.

Kashish’s achievements span far beyond pageantry. She is a national-level pistol shooter, a basketball player, a Bharatanatyam dancer, and a tabla performer. She founded an NGO, Critical Cause, to promote plasma and organ donation awareness. Even as she prepared for beauty pageants, she simultaneously appeared for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam, securing an All India Rank of 2 and earning entry into the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. Her commitment to excellence continued at the academy, where she earned numerous awards for shooting, sports, debates, and drill, along with leadership positions like Battalion Under Officer (BUO) and Academy Under Officer (AUO).

Kashish’s decision to join the army over pursuing a PhD at Harvard reflects her focus on service and personal fulfillment. She has faced challenges, including self-doubt, body image issues, and impostor syndrome, but her resilience has been unwavering. She believes in exploring multiple interests, discovering what excites you, and building a career around passion,an approach that has guided her multifaceted success.

Her story is more than a list of accolades; it is a blueprint for determination, courage, and breaking traditional molds. Kashish Methwani embodies how discipline, curiosity, and ambition can coexist, inspiring young women and aspiring leaders to embrace a life of possibilities.