Vaidehi Dongre crowned as Miss India USA 2021

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 20 July 2021

Vaidehi Dongre, 25, of Michigan, was crowned Miss India USA 2021, while Arshi Lalani, 23, of Georgia, was named first runner up at the weekend beauty pageant.

Dongre earned a bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of Michigan. She is a business development manager for a large corporation.

She is a business development manager for a large corporation.

She was also named 'Miss Talented' for her Kathak performance.

Lalani, 20, wowed the judges with her performance and confidence and was named first runner-up. She is afflicted with a brain tumour.

Mira Kasari of North Carolina was named the second runner-up.

Miss India USA, Mrs India USA, and Miss Teen India USA each had 61 contestants from 30 states compete in their respective pageants. Winners in all three categories receive complimentary tickets to Mumbai to compete in international pageants.

Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997, served as both the pageant's chief guest and judge.

Miss India USA, founded around 40 years ago by prominent Indian-Americans Dharmatma and Neelam Saran in New York under the banner of Worldwide Pageants. The winner of the Miss India USA pageant represents the United States at the Miss India Worldwide pageant. The 2019-2020 titleholder of Miss India USA was Aaishwariya Gulani from Florida.

Dharmatma Saran, chairman and founder of the India Festival Committee in New York, which organises the trailblazing Miss India Worldwide pageant, has used the title to raise funds for the poor and needy. He put the beauty to use for a good cause. Saran has also debunked several popular misconceptions about beauty pageants.