Shilpa Singh Miss Universe 2012 in a bikini Photos

The Miss Universe crown has eluded India ever since Sushmita Sen brought it home in 1994 followed by Lara Dutta in 2000. And as the competition heats up once again this year, all hopes are pinned on Shilpa Singh, a software engineer from Bihar. In an interview on Zee Cafe recently, the 23-year-old spoke about her fashion sense, how she prepared for the contest and other little known facts about herself.

“Fashion is all about feeling good about oneself,” she observed. “You wear something and you feel good, you feel confident, you stand in front of the mirror and say,‘Oh, I look good’, that for me is fashion,” Shilpa said.

When it comes to fitness, the beauty queen feels that the exercise regime should not be monotonous but fun and varied. “Getting in shape involves two things — diet and exercise. I did not starve myself but ate smaller, more frequent meals every two hours. Also, keeping oneself hydrated is important,” she added. Shilpa’s workout included weight training and cardio. “I also did kick boxing so that I don’t get bored,” she said.

What most people don’t know about this passionate dancer and runway model is that she loves cooking, playing basketball and swimming.