Lt. Garima Yadav

#77/100 in #100extraordinarywomen

While the most common stereotype is that beauty pageant winners end up in Bollywood, Lieutenant Garima Yadav, a former beauty pageant winner, had other plans when it came to her career. From being the winner of a beauty pageant to becoming an Army officer, this young lady’s journey is one to reckon with. 

In the year 2017, Lt. Yadav won a beauty pageant called ‘India’s Miss Charming Face’. After winning this pageant, she was invited to participate in the next beauty pageant at an international level in Italy. But she chose to serve the country. She has completed her studies from Army Public School and pursued her graduations with a Bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi. But neither modelling nor army was her first career choice. She was a bright student and wanted to join the IAS but she wasn’t able to clear her IAS mains. Without losing hope she attempted the Combine Defence Services (CDS) exam. Not only she passed the written exam in her first attempt, but also cleared the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview and got into Officer's Training Academy (OTA), Chennai. The lady officer was commissioned into the Indian Army on March 9, 2019, after undergoing 11 months of rigorous training at the OTA. 

“I am a single mother-child, and she has been there for me in all my ups and downs, motivating me, she’s a strong woman and my true inspiration I just wanted to make her proud… I was preparing for civil services but I guess army was my true calling, I got recommended in my 1st attempt. Before that I was working as an MC for events as a part-time job, while preparing for exams, from there I was selected for a pageant called India’s Miss Charming Face’s auditions, I won the pageant in November 2017 and was selected for next pageant at international level which was to be held in Italy, but I chose to join OTA Chennai instead,” Garima said. 

Regarding her training, she adds, “I had a wonderful experience at the OTA. At first it was difficult for me to cope up with the tough training, the weather was also unfavorable. I did not have very good physical standards but somehow I managed for first few months, I didn’t give up and improved drastically. I actively participated in all curriculum activities. People have a wrong conception that you have to be good at all sports, physically strong to get selected in the SSB. That’s not true, you just should be willing to accept your weaknesses and work on them, should always endeavor to get better and better every day. One should be honest, positive, creative and solution orientated. That’s all you need, rest everything will follow.” 

On March 9, 2019, a total on 172 Gentlemen and Lady Cadets, including those belong to Bhutan and Afghanistan passed out from the OTA. Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, General Officer, Commander-in-Chief, reviewed the parade. Lt. Garima Yadav was one of the proud officers to be commissioned that day. 

Lt. Garima Yadav has broken all stereotypes, and chose to serve the country over a beauty pageant and a life of glamour and fame. We need more inspiring women like her to set a positive example for the young girls of this nation.

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