At just 24, Dr Sree Advaita is impossible to place in just one box. A medical doctor from Chennai, Dr Sree Advaita is Femina Miss India 2026 - 2nd Runner Up, a trained dancer, and a founder of an NGO focused on women's health.

Raised in an Army family and moulded by a life lived across India, she carries a fierce elder-sibling energy.

When her pageant journey began, she truly believed she would win and eventually go on to Miss World as well. 'It was a dream for almost 20 years,' she says candidly. So, when her name was announced among the top three at Femina Miss India 2026, the moment came with mixed emotions. 'Initially, I felt bummed that I would not be moving forward. But, at the same time, I felt grateful because being in the top three itself is such a huge achievement.' And, when she spotted her parents in the crowd and saw the pride in their eyes, everything else just disappeared from her mind.

Whether she is performing Bharatanatyam, walking the runway, speaking about menstrual health in government schools, or balancing the demands of medicine and modelling, Dr Sree Advaita represents a generation of young women refusing to shrink themselves to fit just one identity.

Top: Roseroom; Pants: OTT by Tarun Tahiliani; Jewellery: Tanishq Natural Diamonds

Excerpts from an interview:
Femina: You are a doctor, dancer, model, and now Femina Miss India 2026 - 2nd Runner Up. Has there ever been a moment when people made you feel like you had to choose just one version of yourself?
All my life, people have tried to push me towards defining myself in one way, but I've always resisted that. I don't want to be put into a box and confined to one thing and told, 'This is Advaita.' I want people to go literally speechless when asked to describe me. And, when one can do so much, why settle for just one part of it?

You've lived across India while growing up in an Army family. Which part of your upbringing has stayed with you the most?
People often talk about adaptability when they discuss moving around a lot, but, for me, it was more than that. Being in new situations constantly keeps you out of your comfort zone and teaches you not to fear uncertainty. I realised very early in life that change is the only constant, and I think that becomes a superpower for a lot of Army kids.

A few years ago, you were diagnosed with a spinal injury. Your recovery story is incredibly powerful and shows so much resilience on your part. What did that phase teach you about strength that success and applause never could?
When my injury was diagnosed, I was thriving in every aspect of life. My dancing, modelling, and academics were all going well. Doctors still do not have a practical explanation for the injury. That phase was physically and mentally exhausting. For close to three years, I had completely given up, but, one day, something inside me shifted. I realised I could not let that become my entire life story.

Pageantry and the dream of creating something meaningful kept me going. The injury also taught me that, no matter how hard you work, whatever is destined for you will reach you at the right time.

Black skirt and top: Rudraksh Dwivedi; Jewellery: Tanishq Natural Diamonds

As someone who has spent years in medicine and modelling, how do you personally define beauty today?
Ever since I was a child, beauty was never only external to me. I still remember watching pageants on television for the first time. I was fascinated by the confidence with which those women walked onto a stage and spoke with such charisma.

Growing up, I've always noticed energy more than appearance. Looking good is being pretty, but, when you feel great and make the people around you feel great too, that is true beauty.

Through Project Pari, you're creating conversations around menstrual health and PCOS [now PMOS] in government schools. What are some silences around women's health in India that urgently need to change?
I think the biggest issue is that women's health is still treated as an option in many households. Everyone depends on the mother when someone is unwell but, when the mother herself is sick, it is often not given enough importance.

I see this constantly in hospital wards, especially with reproductive health. So many women suffer from conditions such as PCOS [now PMOS], yet a huge percentage are not even aware of it. There is also very little focus on preventive healthcare and health literacy. People usually seek treatment only after a condition worsens, instead of prioritising screening and awareness early on.

You once invented eco-friendly sanitary napkins and won a Junior Scientist Award for it. Do you think young girls are often more innovative than the world gives them credit for?
Girls and women are one of the greatest resources of this country. With all the resources available online, girls are coming up with so many brilliant ideas. They are thriving in whatever they're doing, but I feel they're not given enough credit for it. I really believe girls need bigger platforms and opportunities because they are capable of transforming not just homes, but entire communities. You've spoken about wanting to break the idea that people must fit into one box.

"Medicine taught me about responsibility and humanity that extend beyond me. The arts taught me discipline and expression"
- Femina Miss India 2026 - 2nd Runner Up, Dr Sree Advaita

What is something about ambition, especially for young women, that society still misunderstands?
There's this assumption that if a girl is overly ambitious, she will drift away from her roots, culture, or family, and that is very sad. For men, ambition is often seen as natural, but, for women, it still feels like something that needs permission and validation.

Whenever I speak to young girls, I always tell them that freedom and validation are internal. If you want something, just go for it. Don't wait for approval.

From hospital wards to fashion runways, you move between two very different worlds. Do you find that one side of your life changes the way you approach the other?
Medicine taught me about responsibility and humanity that extend beyond me. In modelling and dance, I perform for myself, but, in medicine, someone else's life is involved. At the same time, the arts taught me discipline and expression. Every experience in my life has contributed to who I am today.

Your grandmother's legacy of teaching and helping people clearly shaped your outlook. What is one value from her that still guides you every day?
My grandma was very modern in her mindset and incredibly influential. One thing she always told me was to create an identity for myself. Before dying, she placed my parents' hands in mine and told me I would have to take care of them one day. That moment stayed with me forever because it showed how much potential she saw in me. She taught me accountability very early in life.

The Femina Miss India title often changes lives overnight but, beyond the crown and visibility, what kind of impact do you hope Dr Sree Advaita leaves behind in the long run?
At the end of the day, I just want to create a space where not only I thrive, but others feel inspired too. I started working towards change long before pageantry through my work in reproductive and women's health. This platform has amplified my voice. More than fame, I want people to remember me for the kindness I showed and the impact I created. Even if one girl can someday tell me that something I did helped her move forward in life, that would mean the world to me.