MISS GRAND
United Kingdom
Pooja Ghodekar
INTRODUCTION
Pooja Ghodekar is someone who has always believed in building a life with purpose. She is a successful entrepreneur, engineer, and philanthropist whose journey reflects ambition, resilience, and purpose. Born in Mumbai, India, and now based in the UK, which she calls home, she proudly represents not only the United Kingdom but also the essence of her Indian heritage.
Her journey has been shaped by ambition, independence, and a genuine desire to create something meaningful. With a successful academic background in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering and an MBA in Global Business, she has always been passionate about proving that women can be powerful in every space they choose to step into.
She is the founder of Pinnacler, a luxury fashion brand that reflects more than style. For Pooja, it was important to create something that stands for confidence, opportunity, and empowerment. What she is building through Pinnacler is not just a brand, but a platform with purpose—one that she hopes can create real opportunities for women and inspire them to believe in their own potential.
Alongside her work in business, Pooja is also deeply passionate about giving back. She is the founder of Shining Little Stars, an initiative focused on supporting underprivileged children, disadvantaged women, and single mothers through education and empowerment. This work is especially close to her heart because she believes education can truly change the direction of someone’s life and open doors that once felt impossible to reach.
Having travelled to 24 countries independently and experienced life across different cultures, Pooja has developed a strong sense of perspective and adaptability. Moving abroad independently taught her resilience, courage, and the importance of trusting her own path. She carries those lessons into everything she does—whether it’s business, philanthropy, or pageantry.
As Miss Grand UK, Pooja represents a woman who is driven, grounded, and full of vision. She believes in beauty with depth, ambition with heart, and success that creates impact for others as well as yourself. Her story is still being written, but at the centre of it is a simple belief: that with courage, purpose, and consistency, a woman can create a life that not only inspires, but truly makes a difference.
Stop the War and Violence
To me, “Stop the War and Violence” means choosing peace, understanding, and humanity over hatred. War affects far more than those on the battlefield—it takes away homes, families, opportunities, and innocent lives.
I believe that no disagreement should cost someone their life or their future. We may come from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, but we all deserve to live with safety, dignity, and hope. I believe real strength is not found in violence, but in choosing dialogue, compassion, and peace.
The 4Bs – Body, Brain, Beauty & Business
Body
For me, a healthy body reflects a healthy mind. It is not about your size or shape, but about discipline, self-respect, and taking care of yourself.
Brain
Brain represents intelligence, education, and the ability to think beyond the obvious. With an MBA in Global Business and my background in engineering, I believe I bring both technical knowledge and business understanding to the table.
Beauty
Beauty is relative, and every woman is beautiful in her own way. In pageantry, especially at Miss Grand, I believe beauty is also about versatility—being able to transform your look through different makeup, styling, and outfits while still maintaining your own identity.
Business
Business is not only about owning a company. It is about what you can bring to an organisation and how you can create value. With my background in software engineering and business, I can contribute ideas and technology that could help MGI develop its own digital platforms and sell products directly, reducing reliance on third-party platforms. Being of Indian heritage and based in Europe, I also bring an understanding of two major and diverse markets.
Together, the 4Bs represent who I am—disciplined, intelligent, versatile, and driven to create value.
PASSION TO BEAUTY PAGEANT
My Passion for Beauty Pageants
My passion for beauty pageants comes from my love for confidence, self-expression, and the opportunity to inspire others. I believe pageants are much more than beauty—they give women a platform to share their stories, represent their communities, and make a difference.
For me, being part of pageantry has helped me grow as a woman, step outside my comfort zone, and use my voice with confidence. I love the discipline, friendships, and experiences that come with it, and I hope to continue using pageantry as a platform to inspire and empower other women.
SKILLS
I would describe myself as a strong communicator, problem-solver, entrepreneur, and leader. My engineering background has developed my analytical and technical skills, while my business education has strengthened my ability to understand people, markets, and opportunities.
I am also adaptable, independent, and confident working with people from different cultures. I have strong organisational and networking skills, and I enjoy creating ideas and turning them into something practical.
Through my work in business, philanthropy, and pageantry, I have also developed skills in public speaking, social media, leadership, teamwork, creativity, and project management.
Most importantly, I believe my ability to combine technology, business, and people is one of my strongest skills and something I can bring to the Miss Grand International organization.