Shree Saini Explained
Shree Saini (born January 6, 1996) is an American model and beauty pageant titleholder. She represented the United States at Miss World 2022, reaching 1st runner-up and winning the Beauty with a Purpose National Ambassadorship. Saini is the first Asian woman to represent the United States at Miss World.[4]
Early life and education
Shree Saini was born on January 6, 1996, in Punjab, India, and has lived in the United States since age 5.[5] [6] She first dreamed of competing for the Miss World title at the age of 5.[7] For the first 12 years of her life, while growing up in Moses Lake, Washington, Saini's heartbeat had an average of just 20 beats per minute.[8] Doctors told her she could never dance again but she persisted, and continued training in ballet.[9] [10]
Later in life, Saini was involved in a major car crash in Moses Lake that resulted in her suffering from significant facial burns.[11] [12] Saini was advised that her recovery would take a year, but she returned to her classes after just two weeks.
Saini attended the University of Washington.[13] She is a trained ballerina, and has been accepted to train at the Joffrey Ballet.[14]
Pageantry
Saini, who was listed as both a resident of Seattle and Ellensburg, Washington, in 2020,[11] [15] [16] was the 2020 Miss Washington World and America's Beauty with a Purpose National Ambassador,[17] which is a preliminary competition to Miss World America. In October 2019, Saini collapsed at the Miss World America preliminary.
In 2020, Saini was awarded the World Peace Messenger award from Passion Vista Magazine.[18] On October 2, 2021, Shree Saini was appointed Miss World America 2021, and crowned by Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997. She is the first Indian-American and Asian-American woman to hold the Miss World America title.[19] Shree Saini represented the United States of America at Miss World 2021 in Puerto Rico.[20] In February 2022, the Washington state legislature passed a resolution recognizing Saini's philanthropic achievements and wishing her success at Miss World.[21]
Miss World 2021
Saini finished as the first runner up in the Miss World 2021 competition, where Karolina Bielawska of Poland was crowned as the winner.[22] She was also chosen as the 2021 Beauty with a Purpose Ambassador to travel with Bielawska during her reign.[23]
Philanthropy
Saini has volunteered with hundreds of nonprofits including the USO, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Make A Wish, UNICEF, Victoria's Voice Foundation, American Heart Association, Children's Right And YOU, Doctors Without Borders, Special Olympics, homeless shelters, and several Anti Human Trafficking nonprofits and she has raised more than $200,000 for dozens of 10 nonprofits, including $50,000 for Variety Children's Charity.[24]
Notes and References
- News: Shree Saini from USA crowned Miss India Worldwide 2018 . . en.
- News: UW student Shree Saini wins Miss India Worldwide 2018 . . 7 January 2019.
- Web site: Indian-American model Shree Saini selected for Miss World America Pageant 2019 . 3 October 2019.
- Web site: Castro . Jenny . 2023-06-20 . Gas pumps and pageants: Washington's resilient Miss World America Shree Saini . 2023-09-11 . Seattle Refined . en.
- News: Indian American model Shree Saini collapses before Miss World America final night . en . .
- News: Indian American Student and Anti-bullying Activist Shree Saini Crowned 'Miss India Worldwide 2018' . Indiawest.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20181220035400/https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/indian-american-student-and-anti-bullying-activist-shree-saini-crowned/article_10ff5e5c-03c9-11e9-9315-ef18d8995df1.html. December 20, 2018.
- Web site: Castro . Jenny . 2023-06-20 . Gas pumps and pageants: Washington's resilient Miss World America Shree Saini . 2023-09-11 . Seattle Refined . en.
- News: Powered by a pacemaker, Miss India USA seeks to dance her way to Miss India World . The Universal News Network . 25 July 2018 . 18 April 2020 . 3 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200803173926/https://theunn.com/2018/07/powered-by-a-pacemaker-miss-india-usa-seeks-to-dance-her-way-to-miss-india-world/ . dead .
- News: Shree Saini from Washington has been crowned Miss India USA 2017 . India Today.
- News: Indian-American Beauty Queen Shree Saini Raises Funds For Drug Awareness . Darpan Magazine . en.
- Web site: Ed Condran . November 23, 2020 . 'I'm just grateful to be alive': Spokane and a pacemaker are in Miss World America Washington's heart . 2021-10-04 . Spokane . The Spokesman-Review.
- News: Miss India USA Shree Saini Collapses a Night Before Miss World America Finale, Mother Asks For Prayers . . 15 October 2019 .
- Web site: Mendoza . Jefferson . 2018-03-06 . UW student, Shree Saini, uses her role in pageants to impact and help others . 2023-06-14 . International Examiner . en-US.
- News: Dutt . Ela . Indian-American small-town girl takes on bullying, inequality as Miss India Worldwide . News India Times .
- Web site: Goggins. Shawn. Local woman refuses to give up on dream to be crowned Miss World after 2019 health scare. 2021-10-04. iFIBER One News. October 14, 2020. en.
- News: Ellensburg resident seeking Miss World America title. Jack Belcher . October 12, 2020. Daily Record. Ellensburg, Washington.
- Web site: official website. Miss World. Miss World America 2021 Crowned. 2021-11-25.
- Web site: Miss World America Washington Shree Saini gets World Peace Messenger award in Los Angels (sic) by Staff and other Articles Contributed by Indians Community in Portland Area . 2023-09-11 . www.portlandindian.com.
- Web site: 4 October 2021 . Shree Saini becomes first Indian-American to be crowned Miss World America .
- Web site: Dutt. Ela. First Indian-American crowned Miss World America says "It's a win for our inclusive America" News India Times. 3 October 2021 . 2021-10-30. en-US.
- Web site: February 22, 2022 . SR 8643 - 2021-22 . 2023-09-11 . Washington State Legislature.
- 1504291831839920128. MissWorldLtd. Our Miss World 2021 is Karolina Bielawska from Poland! #missworld. 17 March 2022.
- Web site: Saini . Shree . 2022-03-24 . 35 Beauty with a Purpose projects completed in USA by the National Ambassador . 2023-06-14 . Miss World USA . en.
- Web site: Castro . Jenny . 2023-06-20 . Gas pumps and pageants: Washington's resilient Miss World America Shree Saini . 2023-09-11 . Seattle Refined . en.