Redefining beauty: An exclusive interview with Anglee Kumar
By Swarupa Tripathy
Anglee Kumar is a remarkable individual whose journey embodies strength, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams. Having faced and conquered the daunting challenges after being diagnosed with cancer, she has emerged as a beacon of hope and inspiration for countless others.
But, Kumar’s triumph over adversity doesn’t stop there. She also captured the hearts of many as the first runner up in the prestigious Miss Universe Great Britain competition last year. Her remarkable story makes her a true symbol of empowerment and an inspiration to all.
The 28-year-old was born in New Delhi, India and raised in London by parents of Afghan background. She belongs to a tight-knit family and has three siblings – a twin sister, Tina (28), younger sister Khushboo (21) and brother Ram (16).
She speaks highly of her mother, who is a source of inspiration for her. “She’s struggled a lot,” Kumar says, adding that after her mum had just turned 40 she was diagnosed with cancer, many years ago. Despite that, she maintained her independence, resilience and grace, and was able to beat the life threatening disease.
From a very young age, Kumar was immersed in a busy and active lifestyle. Twice a week, she and her sister would attend swimming lessons, engaging in extracurricular activities and building their network. “I and my twin sister, we got involved in everything in our school. So we did dance, gymnastics and several activities every year,” she says. Both the sisters did a lot of networking. They met influential people including the chairman of Marks and Spencer, with whom they got the opportunity to organise a fashion show as ambassadors for a charity that raised funds for the education of children in rural parts of India. Through these experiences, she nurtured her love for fashion and entrepreneurship, while also actively participating in charity work.
Despite a passion for fashion, Kumar pursued a career as a paralegal, driven by her parents’ encouragement to pursue an academic path. She reveals that from a young age she was interested in drama and acting, and credits her profession as a paralegal in helping her become a more confident public speaker. She discovered that she could embrace both her love for acting and her aptitude for law, leading her to strive for a career as a lawyer while still nurturing her creative side through acting classes. She says, “I feel like you can have more than one passion, but you shouldn’t suppress one just to focus on the other.”
Things were going great for her, but life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was “extremely healthy” and says that she has always been very health conscious, being the “only person in my family who eats quinoa” who doesn’t “even put salt in my food”. Her daily routine also includes different types of exercises and strength training.
But, despite keeping her heath in check, she began experiencing concerning symptoms in the beginning of February 2021, including palpitations and abnormal breathing. Determined to seek answers, she persisted in consulting doctors and specialists, even when they initially dismissed her concerns due to her young age. “Even my parents said, ‘why do you go for tests every day?’, and I used go by myself.” After a series of different tests and scans, she underwent a CT scan which raised alarms for the doctors.
Still oblivious to whether it was something as serious as cancer, Kumar called her father for support and went to the lung specialist with him, who said that a PET scan was needed to be done. Hearing this, she quickly checked online to see what it was for and was “shocked” to realise that it was to check for cancer.
Eventually, she underwent biopsies and was told that she had non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She decided to keep her diagnosis a secret from her family and went to get herself tested alone. She said that she couldn’t face her mother and decided to tell her father first, who broke the news to her and the rest of the family.
Kumar went to the oncologist who gave her the heart-breaking news of her cancer being at stage four. “It was a shock”, she says. She mentions how devastated she was initially but eventually processed it, even though she did not know if she was going to “make it” to the other side.
Navigating the path of cancer treatment was a challenging experience. Starting with a month-long process of freezing her eggs to preserve her fertility, Kumar underwent chemotherapy while enduring its devastating side effects. Hair loss, loss of physical abilities, and frequent hospitalisations were just some of the hardships she faced. “Chemotherapy was just the worst thing I’ve ever experienced because there’s just so many side effects that you have to tackle and one of them is hair loss, which you just can’t mentally prepare for,” she says. The emotional toll of these experiences led her to seek therapy and support, after realising the importance of sharing her struggles with loved ones and asking for help during difficult times. Her life had completely changed.
With each step towards recovery, she felt a growing determination to support other young people facing similar battles. She says, “It was very difficult time for me, and the whole time I was just thinking that when I get better, I need to help other people, especially young people. Being a young woman, I really wasn’t taken seriously by anyone. If I had just listened to one doctor who said, ‘you’re fine’, then I wouldn’t be alive. If I didn’t push as much as I did, it would’ve been a different scenario.”
After a “long process” of undergoing chemotherapy and scans for about a year, she was finally told that there was no inflammation. “This time last year, I just didn’t know if I was going to be here at this time,” she reveals. Her journey with cancer inspired her to uplift other young women and cancer patients, which led to her taking the stage of the Miss Universe Great Britain competition.
In a world that often places emphasis on superficial standards of beauty, Kumar’s journey has shattered stereotypes and defied conventions. She made history as the first cancer survivor to participate in the renowned beauty pageant. Her story is not only a testament to her resilience and determination, but it also sheds light on the importance of representation and the challenges faced by young individuals from diverse backgrounds when it comes to healthcare.
It gave her “a platform to advocate” and challenge societal norms as well as champion the cause of those affected by serious illnesses. By sharing her own story and connecting with others, she aimed to instil confidence and self-acceptance, countering the prevalent pressures of perfection perpetuated through social media.
Despite the concerns of her parents as she was not in remission when she first began her journey to become Miss Universe, she worked hard and was coached by experts for the competition. It seemed like the universe wanted her to succeed in her quest towards raising awareness and empowering others. By the time she finished her treatment in February 2022, she learned that she had made it to the finals.
Breaking the mould of conventional beauty standards, she stands as a beacon of hope for young girls worldwide. “I did it for all the other cancer survivors, patients and people who suffer from hair loss. I decided to go to the stage without my wig, and then I was also the first woman in the UK who participated with short hair.” By embracing her natural self, devoid of wigs or hair extensions, she not only challenged the notions of beauty but also paved the way for inclusivity and acceptance of diverse appearances.
Kumar shared that another reason behind her applying to Miss Universe her community’s perception of her diagnosis. Her parents and grandparents, who were born and raised in Afghanistan, are quite well known within the Indian and Afghan communities. However, the stigma associated with illness, particularly within certain cultural contexts can be deeply ingrained and exacerbate feelings of shame and isolation. Concerns about marriage prospects and societal judgment often discourage individuals from sharing their health struggles; and Kumar’s parents decided to keep her illness a secret because they did not want her to face such “pressure” when she already had so much going on. Many young Asian women are forced to go through such tough times “by themselves” and she says that there is a serious need to get rid of such stigma within the wider Asian community. This journey highlighted the urgent need to destigmatise illnesses and she decided that it was time for her to speak up.
While her personal journey shed light on the specific challenges faced by the Asian community, it is essential to acknowledge the broader issue of disparities in cancer diagnosis and treatment within BAME communities. “The BAME community is underrepresented in so many areas. I’m sure it’s something that needs to be picked up and investigated,” she suggests. Studies have shown that individuals from these backgrounds often face longer waiting times, limited access to appropriate care, and lower survival rates. This alarming trend necessitates systemic changes to ensure equitable healthcare for all, regardless of race or ethnicity.
During and after her treatment, Kumar took on several opportunities to work for charities, get involved in workshops and raise awareness about cancer at events. By speaking out and sharing her story, she has sparked conversations about the importance of representation and the urgent need for improved healthcare support for everyone, regardless of their age or background. “It’s to raise awareness and help people because it was a really tough journey for me. I learned a lot and there were a lot of things I had to learn on my own,” she admits.
In a world where beauty is defined by superficial and conventional standards, the journey of this young cancer survivor has shattered stereotypes and inspired many. Her participation in the Miss Universe Great Britain competition and being the first runner up has opened doors for Asian representation beyond societal norms. Not just that, she also qualified for the Grand Final of Miss Supranational United Kingdom this year as she continues to advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the beauty industry, empowering others to embrace their unique qualities and challenging the status quo.
Kumar’s story serves as a powerful reminder that true beauty lies not in outer appearances but in resilience, authenticity, and the ability to create positive change. Her trailblazing journey will inspire generations to come as she has paved the way for a future where everyone can access the support and achieve their dreams.
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