Chennai-born Indian American Caitlin Sandra Neil has won Miss India USA 2024 during the annual pageant held in New Jersey. The 19-year-old, who is a second-year student at the University of California, Davis, expressed her desire to make a positive impact on her community. ‘’I want to leave a positive lasting impact on my community and focus on women’s empowerment and literacy, ‘’ Caitlin stated in a media release.
Born in Chennai, India, Caitlin has spent the last 14 years in the United States. She wants to make her career as a web designer while also doing modelling as well as acting. Her win at the Miss India USA pageant reflects her dedication and goal to contribute to society meaningfully and simultaneously achieve personal success in her chosen field.
Highlights of Miss India USA 2024 Pageant
The pageant was organized by the India Festival Committee (IFC). The other winners include Sanskriti Sharma from Illinois as Mrs India USA and Arshita Kathpalia from Washington as Miss Teen India USA. Caitlin Sandra Neil and Sanskriti Sharma were crowned by last year’s winners, Sneha Nambiar and Rijul Maini.
The first and second-runners of the Miss India USA competition were Nirali Desai of Illinois and Manini Patel of New Jersey. Similarly, Sapna Mishra of Virginia and Chinamayee Ayachit from Connecticut were declared as first and second runner-up in the Mrs. India USA Category. On the other hand, Sapna Mishra of Virginia and Chinamayee Ayachit from Connecticut were crowned as the first and second runner-up in the Mrs. India USA category. In the teen category, Dhriti Patel of Rhode Island and Sonali Sharma’s names were announced as the first and second runners-up. Around 47 contestants participated in the event representing 25 states and competed against each other across three categories. The pageant continues to provide a platform for Indian-American talent to exhibit their skills, heritage, and ambitions.
(With inputs from PTI)