Indian-American medical student Rijul Maini crowned Miss India USA 2023

Miss India USA 2023 Rijul Maini thanked her mother for curating her outfits for the beauty pageant. (Image credit: @rijulmaini/Instagram)

Rijul Maini, a medical student from Michigan, has been crowned Miss India USA 2023 at the annual pageant held in New Jersey while Sneha Nambiar from Massachusetts was declared as Mrs India USA and Saloni Rammohan from Pennsylvania won the title of Miss Teen India USA.

Maini, a 24-year-old Indian-American, is a medical student and model. She aspires to be a surgeon and hopes to serve as a role model to women everywhere, the pageant stated in a release.

In a celebratory post, Maini wrote, "I am so humbled and grateful to say that I am the new MISS INDIA USA 2023! This could not have been possible without the support of my loving parents and family."

She also thanked her mother for helping her with her outfits for the pageant. "And to my loving amazingly talented momma, who curated the most beautiful outfits for me to walk the stage. Love you so much, I am so blessed to have you!"

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A post shared by Rijul Maini | MISS INDIA USA 2023 (@rijulmaini)

Greeshma Bhat of Virginia was declared first runner-up and Ishita Pai Raikar of North Carolina was the second runner-up. According to the organisers, 57 contestants from over 25 states participated in three different pageants - Miss India USA, Mrs India USA, and Miss Teen India USA.

This year marks the 41th anniversary of the pageant which is the longest-running Indian pageant outside of India. It was started by New York-based Indian-Americans Dharmatma and Neelam Saran under the banner of Worldwide Pageants. Maini, a 24-year-old Indian-American, is a medical student and model. She aspires to be a surgeon and hopes to serve as a role model to women everywhere, the beauty pageant stated.

The winners will be getting complimentary air tickets to take part in Miss- Mrs-Teen India Worldwide organised by the same group. "I am very much thankful to the Indian community around the world for their support over the years," said Dharmatma Saran, founder and chairman of Worldwide Pageants.

(With inputs from PTI)

Read more: Indian American teen Aarya Walvekar crowned Miss India USA 2022