Over the weekend, the 20-years-old Vaidehi Dongre was crowned Miss India USA 2021, she is from Michigan, while Arshi Lalani has been declared the first runner up from Georgia at the beauty pageant. She majored in international studies at the University of Michigan. She works with a major corporation as a business development manager.
Vaidehi said, “I want to leave a positive impact on my community and focus on women’s financial independence and literacy.” She had won ‘Miss talented’ and charmed everyone with her Kathak performance as well as confidence; she was declared the first runner-up. She suffers from Brain Tumour.
Misa Kasari was declared as the second runner-up, she is from North Carolina. The chief guest and chief judge for the pageant was Miss World 1997, Diana Hayden.
In all total 61 contestants took part from 30 states out of which only three different titles were Miss India USA, Mrs. India USA and Miss Teen USA. Winners of all the categories are awarded complimentary tickets to travel to Mumbai so that they may get an opportunity to take part in worldwide pageants.
Vaidehi Dongre had posted some pictures from the competition and the last picture from her childhood on her Instagram profile and captioned it as “Thrilled to be representing the state of Michigan at Miss India USA in July!
Also read: Miss World 2000: Who was responsible for Priyanka Chopra's hairdo at the event?
The Miss India USA pageants have always provided a platform to empower and encourage women of Indian origin. As a little girl having been born in India and raised in the US, I have always straddled the line between Indian & American culture and values & discovered all the amazing gifts that both have to offer.
I believe that the Miss India USA platform will give me the confidence & resources to further my goals, and leave a positive lasting impact on my community.
Wish me luck This one is for my Aai (Mom).”
Around 40 years ago, Miss India USA was started by New York-based eminent Indian-Americans Dharmatma and Neelam Saran and it is the longest-running Indian pageant outside India.