It is pointless to remark how striking 21-year-old Olivia Culpo is. She is, after all, the reigning Miss Universe. She is also one half of one of the most good-looking couples around, what with her dating singer-songwriter Nick Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers.
What is perhaps less known is the charitable side to the couple, an aspect they are both passionate about. No wonder then that it is charity that brought Olivia to Mumbai. As part of the Sanjana Jon Tour, she has been visiting NGOs and charitable institutes around the country. And she feels most strongly about girl child education, which she says is a
primary measure that needs to be taken.
She also spoke to us about meeting Salman Khan during her time here, and harbouring Bollywood dreams.
You’ve been travelling and visiting several NGOs. What do you wish to do for women’s empowerment?
I think that in this country (India), there’s still a lot of cruelty towards women. So, the change needs to begin here. And to get to the heart of that problem, you need to start with young women. As for female foeticide, these babies aren’t even born… So I think we really want to get to the root of that problem.
What’s the first change you personally want to see?
What’s the first change you personally want to see?
I think there is a need for equality in education; that’s the first step towards women’s empowerment.
You went to meet Salman Khan at his farmhouse in Panvel. What was it like?
I did, and we had a small get-together there for Sanjana’s (Jon; designer-social activist) birthday. It was nice to meet Salman — who is Sanjana’s bhai and not mine — through her connection, because they are really close.
If you were offered the chance to act in a Bollywood film, would you take it up?
I love acting. And I love the culture here, so I think that it will be an amazing opportunity.