The first Indian-American to win the crown of Miss World America is Shree Saini of Washington State, who has won several past contests and is known for championing a number of causes and being a motivating and inspiring speaker. Contest organizers announced on October 2, 2021 that Saini, who served as #Beautywithapurpose National Ambassador, had won.

Saini, who came to this country from Punjab at the age of 5 and grew up in the small towns of Colville and Moses Lake in Washington state, has been traveling the world since 2018 when she won the competition. Miss India Worldwide in 2018. Since then, she has won a series of crowns including that of Miss World Washington (State), where she resided.

A heart health advocate, Saini has had a permanent pacemaker since she was 12, but has rarely, if ever, let it hold her back. She is also an advocate for a number of issues such as bullying and is an inspirational speaker for becoming emotionally strong. She also works on poverty reduction projects.

On October 3, Miss World America announced Saini’s victory and her story would be broadcast on KABC and shared across all ABC affiliates.

Currently Miss World America Washington, Saini also holds the prestigious position of “MWA National Beauty with a Purpose Ambassador,” a position she obtained by working tirelessly to help those less fortunate and in need, noted Miss World America on Facebook. Among many other accomplishments, Saini’s work has been recognized by UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, Susan G Komen and many others.

“We are certain that Shree will continue to impeccably embody Beauty With A Purpose and will undoubtedly succeed in raising awareness and calling attention to the Miss World America mission,” the organizers said, adding, “Stay tuned and follow the Miss World America 2021 trip! “

Saini, 25, who has been interviewed and featured for several years in Parikh Worldwide Media has her plate full all the time, rooted in her passionate dedication to causes as broad as bullying, sex trafficking and inequality, between l periodic receipt of his pacemaker. amended.

In 2019, Saini collapsed and was hospitalized on the night of the Miss World America pageant in Las Vegas, and her mother Ekta Saini said on Instagram, “Please pray for my daughter Shree Saini. This is Ekta Saini, Shree’s mother. Shree collapsed just before Miss World America’s final night of competition, which began with an evening gown.

But, in one of her interviews, Shree Saini told Desi that she doesn’t have time to dwell on her heart disease and that’s not what defines her even though it is necessary when ‘she was only 12 years old.

Her dedication was evident, when she was exhausted by all the demands of the competition in 2018, Saini spoke to Desi Talk while waiting in New York City with her mother Ekta Saini for the plane that would take her home to Washington.

At age 14, Saini took up ballet dancing, and her eponymous website, Shreesaini.org, shows the talent that she says got her accepted at the prestigious New York City Joffrey Ballet, an offer she doesn’t did not accept. Instead, she took a year off and spent time in India, traveling to Kolkata, Punjab and other places, and studied at various higher education institutions after her return, such as Yale and Harvard. .

Since her childhood, the question that tormented her was: why are so many people so poor ?. “And I still have this question that torments me. I want to make a radical difference, and my dream is to be able to do so through this competition and my experiences, ”Saini told Desi Talk at the time.

She is a motivational speaker and has also given TED talks.

During the Covid pandemic, Shree Saini was the National Ambassador for Miss World America who describes her theme as #BeautyWithaPurpose.

According to the organization, Saini has completed 35 Beauty with a Purpose projects in the United States in her capacity as National Ambassador.

Shree Saini represented Washington State at Miss World America 2020 and received the title of “National Beauty Ambassador with a Goal.” “Since June of this year, Shree has worked tirelessly, visiting seven US states, promoting and fundraising for Beauty with a Purpose,” among them raising $ 7,500 for Covid India relief funds that will be used to feed people in need there; fundraising for other nonprofits including Boys Town Charity, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vehicles for Veterans, and the American Cancer Society, to name a few. Her work has been recognized by UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, Susan G Komen and the New York State Senate.

On April 21, Kittitas County established “Shree Saini Day” to support its continued work for Beauty with a Purpose according to the americasmissworld Facebook page.

“I’ve always wanted to lead a service-based life,” since she was 15, Saini told this report in 2018, and she hasn’t stopped. Participating in contests gives her the opportunity to partner with non-profit organizations and defend the causes in which she believes. . “

“I truly believe that in order to overcome any physical or emotional problem, you have to become emotionally strong. Bullying happens everywhere, in schools and workplaces. What helped me personally were my parents filling me with love and confidence, and self-help books on how to be mentally stronger.

She also reads other stuff and loves movies, but always “the ones that help you change as a person”. In 2018, during her interview, she said that one of her favorite Bollywood films was “Taare Zameen Par”, a 2007 release produced and directed by Aamir Khan, about the life and imagination of Ishaan, 8 years. From Hollywood, she refines “The Blind Side” based on a true story, inspires her. It is about a white suburban mother who takes in a homeless African-American student.

During the 2018 interview, Saini responded to her favorite things to eat and do. She is not a big foodie, she was quick to answer when asked what was her favorite dish. “But I like Punjabi food like paneer and dahi. However, I try to eat a healthy diet every two hours. At that time, Saini saw a cardiologist every three months and had to have the batteries in his pacemaker replaced every ten years surgically.

Her mother, Ekta Saini, was the inspiration for Shree with her own unwavering determination.

“When she was diagnosed at 12, to me it was like – no, that can’t happen to us!” Ekta Saini told Desi Talk in 2018. “But clearly the machines were telling us what it was. It was a difficult time. “

His next words would bring tears to anyone’s eyes. “But I am thankful that God gave my child a treatable disease and not an incurable disease because he knows how much I can handle, and I cannot handle it, ”said Ekta Saini.

In fact, her daughter is an inspiration to her, the mother said.