New York :Sapna Raghavan has become the second Indian-American after Miss America Nina Davuluri to reach the Miss Teen America pageant, an opportunity she used to throw light on diversity and importance of embracing people’s differences.
Raghavan, a Connecticut resident says she had been racially bullied all her life and has felt out of place quite often.
She became the second Indian-American after Davuluri to reach the Miss Teen America pageant.
Raghavan, who was crowned Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen 2015 in June this year, went to participate in the national competition for teens (age: 13-17) representing the state of Connecticut two weeks ago.
She did not win the national crown, but received USD 1,000 in scholarships.
“I am considering to participate in Miss America pageant,” Raghavan told a local newspaper.
“It is an option, but right now I am focusing on my Bharatnatyam dance and applying to colleges.”
She is the first girl of Indian descent to ever compete or win in either pageant, and then became the second Indian American ever to compete at the National level for Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2015 on August 1.
Miss America pageant, which is open to 18-25 age group, is sister pageant of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.
Davuluri, who was crowned Miss America last year, had also participated in the national Miss Teen competition after winning Miss New York’s Outstanding Teen.
Davuluri did not win the Miss Teen pageant either.
The Miss America Organisation promotes higher education, strongly supporting women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, by being the world’s largest scholarship provider to young women.
PTI