Shree Saini

{{Infobox pageant titleholder

| image =

| caption = Saini in 2021 as Miss World America

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|01|06|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Punjab, India

| name = Shree Saini

| nationality =

| occupation = Model

| height = 5 ft 9 in{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

| alma_mater = University of Washington

| website = {{url|shreesaini.org}}

| title = Miss World America 2021

| awards =

| competitions = {{Ubl|Miss World America 2020|(Top 10)|Miss World 2021|(1st Runner-Up)}}

}}

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,{{cite web |author1=Asian News International |title=Ludhiana-born Shree Saini becomes first Indian to win Miss World America 2021 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/ludhianaborn-shree-saini-becomes-first-indian-to-win-miss-world-america-2021-101633375389716.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=13 October 2024 |date=5 October 2021}}{{cite web |title=Meet Shree Saini; first Indian-American woman from Punjab to win Miss World America |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/meet-shree-saini-first-indian-american-woman-from-punjab-to-win-miss-world-america-351430/ |website=The Tribune |language=en}} and has lived in the United States since age 5.{{cite news |title=Indian American model Shree Saini collapses before Miss World America final night |language=en |work=Times Now |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/trending/article/indian-american-model-shree-saini-collapses-before-miss-world-america-final-night/503689}}{{cite news |title=Indian American Student and Anti-bullying Activist Shree Saini Crowned 'Miss India Worldwide 2018' |url=https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/indian-american-student-and-anti-bullying-activist-shree-saini-crowned/article_10ff5e5c-03c9-11e9-9315-ef18d8995df1.html |work=Indiawest.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220035400/https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/indian-american-student-and-anti-bullying-activist-shree-saini-crowned/article_10ff5e5c-03c9-11e9-9315-ef18d8995df1.html|archive-date=December 20, 2018}} 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.{{cite news |title=Powered by a pacemaker, Miss India USA seeks to dance her way to Miss India World |url=https://theunn.com/2018/07/powered-by-a-pacemaker-miss-india-usa-seeks-to-dance-her-way-to-miss-india-world/ |work=The Universal News Network |date=July 25, 2018 |access-date=April 18, 2020 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803173926/https://theunn.com/2018/07/powered-by-a-pacemaker-miss-india-usa-seeks-to-dance-her-way-to-miss-india-world/ |url-status=dead }} Doctors told her she could never dance again but she persisted, and continued training in ballet.{{cite news |title=Shree Saini from Washington has been crowned Miss India USA 2017 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/what's-hot/story/shree-saini-miss-india-usa-2017-beauty-pageant-lifest-1108617-2017-12-19 |work=India Today}}{{cite news |title=Indian-American Beauty Queen Shree Saini Raises Funds For Drug Awareness |url=https://darpanmagazine.com/news/international/indianamerican-beauty-queen-shree-saini-raises-funds-for-drug-awareness/?page=23 |work=Darpan Magazine |language=en}}

Later in life{{When|date=September 2024}}, Saini was involved in a major car crash in Moses Lake that resulted in her suffering from significant facial burns.{{Cite web |author=Ed Condran |date=November 23, 2020 |title='I'm just grateful to be alive': Spokane and a pacemaker are in Miss World America Washington's heart |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/nov/23/im-just-grateful-to-be-alive-spokane-and-a-pacemak/ |access-date=October 4, 2021 |location=Spokane |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review}}{{cite news |title=Miss India USA Shree Saini Collapses a Night Before Miss World America Finale, Mother Asks For Prayers |url=https://www.india.com/buzz/miss-india-usa-shree-saini-collapses-a-night-before-miss-world-america-finale-mother-asks-for-prayers-3806231/ |work=India.com |date=October 15, 2019 }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Mendoza |first=Jefferson |date=March 6, 2018 |title=UW student, Shree Saini, uses her role in pageants to impact and help others |url=https://iexaminer.org/uw-student-shree-saini-uses-her-role-in-pageants-to-impact-and-help-others/ |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=International Examiner |language=en-US}} She is a trained ballerina, and has been accepted to train at the Joffrey Ballet.{{cite news |last1=Dutt |first1=Ela |title=Indian-American small-town girl takes on bullying, inequality as Miss India Worldwide |work=News India Times |url=https://www.newsindiatimes.com/indian-american-small-town-girl-takes-on-bullying-inequality-as-miss-india-worldwide/}}

Pageantry

Saini, who was listed as both a resident of Seattle and Ellensburg, Washington, in 2020,{{Cite web|last=Goggins|first=Shawn|title=Local woman refuses to give up on dream to be crowned Miss World after 2019 health scare|url=https://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/local-woman-refuses-to-give-up-on-dream-to-be-crowned-miss-world-after-2019/article_a979d3ce-0e80-11eb-a6c9-e3627759980b.html|access-date=October 4, 2021|website=iFIBER One News|date=October 14, 2020|language=en}}{{cite news|title=Ellensburg resident seeking Miss World America title|author=Jack Belcher | date=October 12, 2020|newspaper=Daily Record|location=Ellensburg, Washington|url=https://www.dailyrecordnews.com/monday/local_news/ellensburg-resident-seeking-miss-world-america-title/article_75cb799d-ba58-5183-bcd1-031f5e1d54a9.html}} was the 2020 Miss Washington World and America's Beauty with a Purpose National Ambassador,{{cite web|website=official website|publisher=Miss World|title=Miss World America 2021 Crowned|date=November 25, 2021|url=https://www.missworld.com/2021/usa/shree-saini/my-life/miss-world-america-2021-crowned}} 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.{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.portlandindian.com/desi/contributionsdetail.asp?id=29164 |access-date=September 11, 2023 |website=www.portlandindian.com}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Jenny |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Gas pumps and pageants: Washington's resilient Miss World America Shree Saini |url=https://seattlerefined.com/fashion-beauty/shree-saini-miss-world-america-seattle-shrees-gas-station-inspiring-story-pageants-beauty-queen-uw-dance-moses-lake-washington-pnw |access-date=September 11, 2023 |website=Seattle Refined |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2021 |title=Shree Saini becomes first Indian-American to be crowned Miss World America |url=https://abc7.com/indian-american-miss-world/11080533/}} Shree Saini represented the United States of America at Miss World 2021 in Puerto Rico.{{Cite web|last=Dutt|first=Ela|title=First Indian-American crowned Miss World America says "It's a win for our inclusive America" {{!}} News India Times|date=October 3, 2021 |url=https://www.newsindiatimes.com/first-indian-american-crowned-miss-world-america-says-its-a-win-for-our-inclusive-america/|access-date=October 30, 2021|language=en-US}} In February 2022, the Washington state legislature passed a resolution recognizing Saini's philanthropic achievements and wishing her success at Miss World.{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2022 |title=SR 8643 - 2021-22 |url=https://apps.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=8643&Year=2021&Initiative=false |access-date=September 11, 2023 |website=Washington State Legislature}}

= Miss World 2021 =

Saini was the first runner up at Miss World 2021, with Karolina Bielawska of Poland the winner.{{cite tweet|number=1504291831839920128|user=MissWorldLtd|title=Our Miss World 2021 is Karolina Bielawska from Poland! #missworld|date=March 17, 2022}} She was also chosen as the 2021 Beauty with a Purpose Ambassador to travel with Bielawska during her reign.{{Cite web |last=Saini |first=Shree |date=March 24, 2022 |title=35 Beauty with a Purpose projects completed in USA by the National Ambassador |url=https://www.missworld.com/2021/usa/shree-saini/my-purpose/35-beauty-with-a-purpose-projects-completed-in-usa-by-the-national-ambassador |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=Miss World USA |language=en}}

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.