Latest update:29 December 2025 at 7:24 PM IST

After winning the beauty pageant, she received offers from modeling and acting agencies.

She was commissioned a lieutenant on 6 September. (Image source: X)

Kashish Mithwani, who was crowned Miss India International 2023, proved that you don’t have to choose between glamor and determination. After completing 11 months of rigorous training at the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, Kashish became an officer in the Indian Army.

She was commissioned as a lieutenant during the Passing Out Parade held on September 6, marking the beginning of her career as an officer.

Get to know Kashish Mithwani

Born in Pune on January 9, 2001, Kashish earned his master’s degree in biotechnology from Savitribai Phule University, Pune and completed his neuroscience thesis at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. She reportedly received an offer for a PhD at Harvard, but decided to serve her country instead.

In 2024, Kashish cleared the highly competitive Combined Defense Services (CDS) examination and secured second rank in All India and joined Army Air Defence. On September 6, she became the first woman officer in her family and one of the few Miss India winners to join the Indian Army.

Her story proves that “either/or” is a myth. You can get both and more.

Why the army?

After winning the beauty pageant, she received offers from modeling and acting agencies. However, Mithwani saw her win in the competition as an achievement or milestone rather than a long-term career path. “Winning a beauty pageant was always on my bucket list,” she said. “But I knew the Army was where I belonged.”

“Competition was a passion, but it was never a long-term career,” she added.

Mithwani’s interests go beyond uniforms

Outside of her military career, Kechiche has pursued a variety of creative and athletic interests. She is trained in Bharatanatyam dance, plays the tabla, is a skilled divorcee, participates in auditions, and has even founded an NGO.

Her mother Shobha Mitwan said, “Since childhood, she was keen to participate in every competition in school. She used to say, ‘Mujhe sab kuch karna hai (I want to do everything).”

Turning point

Speaking about the turning point for her, she added that her journey changed when she joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC). She was even selected to be part of NCC’s Republic Day Parade and received the Best Cadet Award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Currently, Kashish is stationed in North India with the Army Air Defense which recently played a key role in Operation Sindoor.

Although her family did not have a military background, they fully supported her choice. Her father is a former scientist who later worked with DGQA (General Directorate of Quality Assurance), and her mother is a teacher.

Read more