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Shree Saini (born January 6, 1996) is an American model and beauty pageant titleholder. She represented the United States at Miss World 2022, reaching first 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.

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. She first dreamed of competing for the Miss World title at the age of 5. 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. Doctors told her she could never dance again but she persisted, and continued training in ballet.

Later in life, Saini was involved in a major car crash in Moses Lake that resulted in her suffering from significant facial burns. 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. She is a trained ballerina, and has been accepted to train at the Joffrey Ballet.

Pageantry

Saini, who was listed as both a resident of Seattle and Ellensburg, Washington, in 2020, was the 2020 Miss Washington World and America's Beauty with a Purpose National Ambassador, 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. 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. Shree Saini represented the United States of America at Miss World 2021 in Puerto Rico. In February 2022, the Washington state legislature passed a resolution recognizing Saini's philanthropic achievements and wishing her success at Miss World.

Miss World 2021

Saini was the first runner up at Miss World 2021, with Karolina Bielawska of Poland the winner. She was also chosen as the 2021 Beauty with a Purpose Ambassador to travel with Bielawska during her reign.

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.

References

1. Asian News International (October 5, 2021). "Ludhiana-born Shree Saini becomes first Indian to win Miss World America 2021". Hindustan Times. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
2. "Meet Shree Saini; first Indian-American woman from Punjab to win Miss World America". The Tribune.
3. ^ "Indian American model Shree Saini collapses before Miss World America final night". Times Now.
4. "Indian American Student and Anti-bullying Activist Shree Saini Crowned 'Miss India Worldwide 2018'". Indiawest.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018.
5. ^ Castro, Jenny (June 20, 2023). "Gas pumps and pageants: Washington's resilient Miss World America Shree Saini". Seattle Refined. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
6. ^ Jack Belcher (October 12, 2020). "Ellensburg resident seeking Miss World America title". Daily Record. Ellensburg, Washington.
7. "Powered by a pacemaker, Miss India USA seeks to dance her way to Miss India World". The Universal News Network. July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
8. "Shree Saini from Washington has been crowned Miss India USA 2017". India Today.
9. "Indian-American Beauty Queen Shree Saini Raises Funds For Drug Awareness". Darpan Magazine.
10. ^ Ed Condran (November 23, 2020). "'I'm just grateful to be alive': Spokane and a pacemaker are in Miss World America Washington's heart". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
11. "Miss India USA Shree Saini Collapses a Night Before Miss World America Finale, Mother Asks For Prayers". India.com. October 15, 2019.
12. Mendoza, Jefferson (March 6, 2018). "UW student, Shree Saini, uses her role in pageants to impact and help others". International Examiner. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
13. Dutt, Ela. "Indian-American small-town girl takes on bullying, inequality as Miss India Worldwide". News India Times.
14. Goggins, Shawn (October 14, 2020). "Local woman refuses to give up on dream to be crowned Miss World after 2019 health scare". iFIBER One News. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
15. ^ @MissWorldLtd (March 17, 2022). "Our Miss World 2021 is Karolina Bielawska from Poland! #missworld" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
16. ^ "Miss World America 2021 Crowned". official website. Miss World. November 25, 2021.
17. "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". www.portlandindian.com. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
18. "Shree Saini becomes first Indian-American to be crowned Miss World America". October 4, 2021.
19. Dutt, Ela (October 3, 2021). "First Indian-American crowned Miss World America says "It's a win for our inclusive America" | News India Times". Retrieved October 30, 2021.
20. ^ "SR 8643 - 2021-22". Washington State Legislature. February 22, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
21. Saini, Shree (March 24, 2022). "35 Beauty with a Purpose projects completed in USA by the National Ambassador". Miss World USA. Retrieved June 14, 2023.

External links

• Official website

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Ophély Mézino	Miss World 1st Runner-Up 2021	Succeeded by Yasmina Zaytoun
Preceded by Elís Miele Coelho	Miss World Americas 2021	Succeeded by Leticía Frota
Preceded byAlissa Anderegg	Miss World America 2021	Succeeded byVictoria DiSorbo

• Living people
• American people of Punjabi descent
• American female models of Indian descent
• American beauty pageant contestants
• American beauty pageant winners
• 1996 births
• People from Ellensburg, Washington
• People from Seattle
• People from Moses Lake, Washington
• Miss World 2021 delegates
• Indian emigrants to the United States