As well as being a woman of many talents, you are from a lineage that recognises you as royalty. Can you tell us about your origins?
Yes, although I don’t think it’s necessary. It’s something that I don’t like to mention... Nowadays, people talk about royalty as if it were the Disney universe, but that is not the truth that corresponds to these days. I must even say that it’s not the most important part of my life. I think that life has to do with meritocracy and belonging to this lineage is not something I have struggled to conquer… Of course, I’m proud of my heritage and I keep it in my heart, but mainly education remains. It has to do with how I can use my education to make an impact on the world and that, yes, is the most determining factor for me.
Currently, my family is spread all over the world, in fact, we have always travelled a lot. My parents intended to raise me with an open mind, which is why I have lived in multiple countries. Still, within us resides the Indian spirit, albeit with an international touch, to hold a fuller perspective of the world.
Model, philanthropist, entrepreneur, public figure and probably more qualities that you keep secret. How do you combine such different areas in your daily life?
It’s actually very easy because everything I do; I do with my heart. I don’t dwell on the past, I believe that everything that happens in life is the work of destiny. There, my Indian roots speak for me. We all have a mission in this life, we are born for a reason, and it is under this motto that I lead my life.
Have you ever felt that your cultural heritage conditions you?
Yes, and to be honest it’s been difficult. I come from a very conservative family and when I started my modelling career it wasn’t easy. I had to swim against the current. I also think this kind of rebellious spirit has to do with age. I always wanted to do more, and I was sure which path I wasn’t willing to take. I needed to know who I am and find my way, alone. With modelling, I started to gain authentic life experience, largely because I travelled all over the place. Before that, I remember feeling like a child, protected by everything and nothing. And the choice to reverse all of that was mine.
And as for the academic side, what did you choose to do?
My father wasn’t happy with my modelling career, because it wasn’t the destiny he had planned for me, so I went back to school. Just as he wanted. I went to preparatory school for math and science, but on one condition: I could do with my life what I wanted after those two years. And so, it happened. Right after preparatory school, I had a tutor who accompanied me on my travels so that I could continue my education. Afterwards, I ended up going to New York, and it was there that I devoted myself entirely to my modelling career. I finally started to be part of the world and becoming a young adult.
How did the connection to the football universe come about?
A long story. Now, my family has always been involved in humanitarian projects, my grandmother, for example, was part of the Red Cross. The idea of contributing to a better world was always present in my education, something that helped certain projects to culminate. Over time, I began to think about doing something impactful for people, and it was at that time that I met Emmanuel Macron, long before he became president. I ended up getting involved in an organisation dedicated to young people, in order to help them achieve their dreams.
However, life decided to introduce me to the president of the French National Commission for UNESCO. This intergovernmental organisation, which has around 195 countries, has a permanent delegation in each country, where it deals with events in the respective region. And, well, I became an ambassador and started to fit into this world of international organisations. I was in constant contact with new ideas and trying to find different projects to create. But, as it is a very closed environment, I encountered a lot of difficulties. It didn’t take long to realise that it was time to make a difference and go further. I needed to put some humanity in the projects, something that could touch people, bring them proximity.
Then life decided for me to be invited to the Champions League ceremony, to the draw. I didn’t know what was waiting for me... The first thing I thought of was the number of men present and the unrepresentative number of women. I quickly realised it was a problem. I ended up walking into the room and taking my seat. The ceremony was broadcast live around the world, and I remember, from one moment to the next, my mobile started to receive a ton of messages. «Oh my god, Ronaldo!», «Oh my god, Messi!», they told me. This experience really changed my life. I was amazed at the impact it had on people’s lives. In children and teenagers, the emotion that shone in their eyes, looking at the best in the world, was almost palpable. It’s a poignant memory for me. At the end of the event, I returned home and woke up in the middle of the night with an idea: why not bridge the gap between the United Nations and football? Football is the most popular sport in the world and the United Nations is all about spreading values. Eureka! That’s how the ambition was born, to make football an intangible heritage of humanity.
«We all have a mission in this life»