Indian-origin teens are stealing the show and having crowning moments in the United States, whether a competition tests their beauty or brains. While 6 Indian-origin finalists are vying for America’s Young Scientist Title 2023, 16-year-old UmaSofia Srivastava won the crown of Miss Teen USA 2023. Her crowning moment was a moment of joy, a moment of glory, a moment of pride for the Indian Diaspora in America. It warmed their hearts as they beheld the coveted crown being passed down from the previous year’s Indian American winner Faron Medhi to her successor UmaSofia.
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Like the ‘Miss World America 2021’ Shree Saini, UmaSofia with her beauty and intelligence, beat other 50 contestants from across the States and the District of Columbia at the national-level event in Nevada. She represented New Jersey as Miss New Jersey Teen 2023; the title she bagged early this year was her entry to the grand finale. She is not only the first New Jersey teen but also the first Mexican Indian to have earned the ‘Miss Teen USA 2023’fame.
Her win on the American soil where actress Priyanka Chopra was bullied for her brown complexion in her school days is a bold act of defiance to the American standards of beauty. She is a lot more than her age and beauty. the Miss Teen USA 2023 title winner is a staunch humanitarian. She believes in ethnic diversity, cultural inclusivity, and societal equality. She is a cofounder of the Diversity and Inclusion Campaign at her school, the Academy of St. Elizabeth. She initiates meaningful debates on contemporary topics among young minds as the president of a debate club.
Inspired by changemakers in the US and other parts of the world, UmaSofia Srivastava works with the Lotus Petal Foundation for the welfare of underprivileged children in India. She is associated with several education, nutrition and healthcare initiatives for their holistic development. As an education activist, she collected and donated over 1000 books to the Bridge of Books Foundation to extend the wealth of knowledge for economically disadvantaged kids in New Jersey.
America’s Miss Teen USA 2023, UmaSofia Srivastava has several feathers in her cap. She is a published author with the title “The White Jaguar” to her credit. The metaphorical title is based on her nickname – Little Jaguar (given by her father). The book is a celebration of her unique experience as a half-Indian and a half-Mexican. The book that depicts the journey of a little white jaguar from being hesitant about its unnatural color to ultimately finding the strength to embrace its unique identity resonates with immigrants of color. She hopes to inspire them to unapologetically be their true selves.
UmaSofia, a young beauty with brains and ideals, aspires to become a United Nations ambassador. She believes in self-worth and spreads messages of positivity as well as empowerment through her blog, That’s Fan Behavior. Elucidating her goal to ‘inspire people to be their true selves’ through both her ‘achievements and mistakes’, she states, “taking a risk is never the worst thing; not knowing what could’ve happened if you did, is.”