A self-entitled ‘proud Bradfordian’ is just one of 10 finalists in this year’s Mrs UK World – a competition which brings together inspirational married women from across the country.

36-year-old, Kul Sarai, will be representing her hometown of Bradford after she was told she had made the final cut on Valentine’s Day.

NOMINATED: Kul Sarai, from Bradford, will be competing against nine other finalists in this year’s Mrs UK World contest
NOMINATED: Kul Sarai, from Bradford, will be competing against nine other finalists in this year’s Mrs UK World contest

An actress by trade, the mother of two said she was delighted to hear she had made the final, and explained how she got involved in the competition.

“I’m on a website called ‘StarNow’, and saw the contest advertised on there,” she said.

“I wasn’t sure if it was something I wanted to do initially but thought I’d drop them a line and they got back to me saying ‘we’ve seen your portfolio, brief and bio we think you’d be suitable’.

“My husband then nominated me along with two of my lovely friends and it just all went from there really.”

Unlike other beauty pageants, Mrs UK World requires all entrants­ to be married women, and not only have a ‘ring on their finger’ but also prove that they have not sacrificed their marriages for success elsewhere.

Kul began dating her husband, Bob, in 1996, and married one year later before moving to Mumbai where she took up a career in acting and modelling.

Her biggest career break came during her time in India where she featured as one of Sharukh Khan’s girlfriend’s in the film Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. Yet, upon returning to the UK in 2001, Kul settled into a software developer role, leaving modelling and acting at the other side of the world.

“After coming back to England I became a software developer for three years after doing a course in Mumbai,” she explained.

“Then, after that I had my wonderful children so became ‘Mum’ for quite a while before taking up the acting again.”

COUPLE: Bob and Kul Sarai have been happily married for 16 years and it was Bob who was one of his wife’s three nominators for the Mrs UK World title
COUPLE: Bob and Kul Sarai have been happily married for 16 years and it was Bob who was one of his wife’s three nominators for the Mrs UK World title

Out of this year’s ten finalists, who will compete for the crown of Mrs UK World in Beaconsfield in May, three nominations are Asian.

This is a stat Kul, of Indian descent, is happy to see and explained what it would mean to her, to come away with the national crown.

“It is really good to see it,” she said. “It’s nice to see the three of us there so to have an Asian face represent the whole of the UK would be amazing.

“If I were to win, it would be a dream come true. To be an ambassador for the country would be amazing; to be able to travel all over the world and get out there and get my point across.

“I would never have thought about being a model when I was younger but now I just can’t wait for the final.”

The local contestant is currently looking for a Bradford business to sponsor her on her journey in Mrs UK World and asked if any interested parties would kindly contact her on kulsarai@mail.com