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Shriya Boppana

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Shriya Boppana
Shriya Boppana in 2024
Born (1999-01-08) January 8, 1999 (age 25)
Alma materDuke University
Carnegie Mellon University
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss India America 2020
Major
competition(s)
Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024 (1st Runner-Up)
Miss Earth DC 2022 (1st Runner-Up)
Miss India America (Winner)
Miss India DC (1st Runner-Up)
Websiteshriyaboppana.com
Shriya Boppana at finale of Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024
Shriya Boppana at finale of Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024

Shriya Boppana (born January 8, 1999) is an Indian-American beauty pageant titleholder, award-winning activist, and on-air personality who was crowned as the winner of Miss India America 2020[1] and 1st Runner Up at Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024. Boppana is a broadcast journalist currently at WDCA (locally known as "FOX 5 Plus") in Washington, D.C.[2] and a consulting analyst at Accenture.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Boppana was raised in Herndon, Virginia.[4] She graduated from Herndon High School in 2017,[4] and later received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University in 2021.[5] In July 2024, she joined Duke University's Fuqua School of Business for her Master of Business Administration as a Forte Foundation Fellow and a Fuqua Impact Scholar.[3][6]

Pageantry

[edit]

In September 2020, Boppana placed 1st Runner Up at Miss India DC 2020[5][7] and was later awarded Miss India America 2020.[8]

In August 2022, Boppana placed 1st Runner Up at Miss Earth DC 2022[1] also winning High Point Interview award for 30/30 highest interview score.[9]

On 25 March 2024, Boppana placed 1st Runner Up at Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024,[10] preliminary to Miss Grand International, also winning Miss Grand Smile, Miss Congeniality 2nd Runner Up, and highest interview score.[11][9]

In May 2024, Boppana declined the title of Miss Cosmo US Virgin Islands 2024 to pursue her MBA at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

In October 2024, Boppana was introduced as the interview and speech coach for Mrs Universe California,[12] preliminary to Mrs Universe, and, in November 2024, became the official mentor and pageant coach of the inaugural edition of Miss and Mrs Telugu USA.[13]

Advocacy

[edit]

On 7 July 2020, Boppana was featured in an Op-Ed for the Wall Street Journal advocating for workforce access and job opportunities for new graduates amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic.[14] She would go on to be featured in their 'Future View' section on 15 September 2020, advocating for tuition decrease in higher education amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic in 'Weighing College's Cost Amid Covid,'[15] on 12 January 2021, debating post-pandemic lifestyle changes for younger generations in 'A Second Roaring '20s?'[16] on 5 October 2021, debating the validity and importance of college rankings in 'What College Rankings Don't Tell You,' [17] on 3 December 2024, explaining Gen Z leveraging AI as an effective tool to automate mundane tasks in 'AI and the Automation of Work for Gen Z,'[18] and the Wall Street Journal's 'Future View' Snap series on the pros and cons of the death penalty.[19]

In 2021, Boppana founded Becoming A Voice, a resource creation center for gender and sex crime advocacy content.[20] She also joined the US Department of Justice's DC Human Trafficking Task Force.[3][21][1]

In April 2021, Boppana won the student speaker competition for TedXCMU and presented a TedX talk delving into media's role on perpetuating gender stereotypes and imbalance.[22][23]

On 14 May 2021, Boppana was a featured student speaker thanking educators nationwide at Her Campus' 2021 graduation ceremony, Cheer to the Future, alongside prominent guests, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren, journalist Katie Couric, singer and actress Sofia Carson, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, and correspondent Pamela Brown.[24][25][26]

In June 2021, Boppana was invited to host a panel on gender-based violence in media at the United Nations Foundation's Girl Up 2021 Leadership Summit.[27]

On 11 October 2021, Boppana took over Brooke Shields' Instagram for She's The First's #GirlsGetLoud campaign on International Day of the Girl advocating for children's sexual health education and menstrual hygiene.[28] She was also featured in Bobbi Brown's 'Pretty Powerful' campaign in partnership with She's The First for International Day of the Girl.[29] Boppana was the former Carnegie Mellon University chapter president for 3 years before becoming a Global Youth Ambassador for She's The First in 2021.[30]

In November 2021, Boppana joined Indian child sexual assault prevention organization, Bachpan Save the Innocence, as a media designer and workshop facilitator helping build resources and curriculum to teach safe and unsafe touch to children in poverty-stricken areas of Northern India.[31][3] As of 2024, Boppana has created stickers, posters, and helped build curriculum that has educated over 19,000 children in over 360 colleges, schools, and orphanages with the organization.[32][33][34]

On 22 February 2022, Malala Fund's publication, Assembly, featured Boppana in a Roll Call piece detailing a day-in-the-life as an intern at Paramount, formerly ViacomCBS,[35] working to increase LGBTQIA+ and underrepresented racial and gender identities in reality TV casting.[33] She later become the cover story for the publication's Volume 4, Issue 16[36] and was credited as a casting intern for 'Awesomeness Next Influencer' Season 3.[citation needed]

In late February 2022, Boppana was She's The First's featured submission and award-winning entry for John and Hank Green's 2022 Project for Awesome advocating for youth representation and leadership.[37] She helped secure a $25,000 #P4A2022 grant for the organization.[38]

In late April 2022, the United Nations Foundation and their Girl Up campaign featured Boppana as an alum who gives back to the organization through mentorship with #GenerationGirlUp towards their 'Equal Everywhere' mission.[39]

Shriya Boppana at the Fairfax County Public Schools Hall of Fame Induction ceremony
Shriya Boppana at the Fairfax County Public Schools Hall of Fame Induction ceremony

On 21 July 2022, the Malala Fund (founded by Malala Yousafzai) featured Boppana's activism journey on their social media.[40] Malala later featured Boppana in her 2022 International Day of the Girl video on TikTok.[41]

In 2023, Boppana made the inaugural Forbes 30 Under 30: Austin local list as an activist and TV personality for her anti-sex trafficking work with Becoming A Voice.[2] In April, she was inducted into the Fairfax County Public Schools Hall of Fame also for her anti-sex trafficking and youth empowerment advocacy with Becoming A Voice.[31][42]

In October 2024, Boppana hosted a panel on girls' education rights at the United Nations Foundation's Girl Up 2024 Global Leadership Summit][43] alongside activists Muzhda Akbari and Elisa Torres Durney.[44][45]

On-Air personality

[edit]

'Becoming A Voice with Shriya Boppana' produced by Global Television Networks first aired on the show Capital Forum on WDCA (locally known as "FOX 5 Plus") in February 2021. The segment aired six episodes in season one and was renewed for season two in 2023.[46]

On 3 August 2021, Boppana was featured in an episode of WJLA (locally known as "ABC 7 News") 'Future Leaders of America.' [4]

On 5 November 2024, Boppana made her TV9 debut covering the 2024 United States Presidential Election on TV9 USA in the United States and TV9 Telugu in India.[47]

After 12 episodes in season two on Fox 5 Plus, Boppana signed with TV9 USA and TV9 Telugu in 2024.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Santaella, Francisco. "MEET SHRIYA BOPPANA, THE INDIAN-AMERICAN BEAUTY QUEEN INTENT ON MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE". Flaunt Magazine.
  2. ^ a b Team, Forbes Under 30. "30 Under 30 Local 2023: Austin". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-04-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c d University, Carnegie Mellon (2024-06-26). "Using her Voice - CMU alumna and activist Shriya Boppana finds support for her cause on the beauty pageant stage - Engage with CMU - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
  4. ^ a b c Lynn, Kellye (2021-08-03). "Herndon resident uses platform to uplift others, giving a voice to the voiceless". WJLA. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  5. ^ a b University, Carnegie Mellon. "Advocacy Through Pageantry - News - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu.
  6. ^ "Is It Time for Business Schools to Dress Down? | AACSB". www.aacsb.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  7. ^ "Shriya Boppana: Miss India America's life is all about giving back". Global Indian Youth. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  8. ^ "Pageant Queen Turned Tech Entrepreneur changes the Creator Economy". www.ibtimes.sg. 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  9. ^ a b "Shriya Boppana - Pageant Planet". www.pageantplanet.com. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  10. ^ Brian Javier (2024-03-25). MISS GRAND US VIRGIN ISLAND FINALE 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ Brian Javier (2024-03-24). Miss Grand US Virgin Islands Closed Door Interview!. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Del Pilar, jacqueline. "Mrs Universe CA". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  13. ^ "Miss Telugu USA". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  14. ^ Boppana, Shriya. "The Past Few Months Sent Me in a New Direction". wsj.com.
  15. ^ Boppana, Shriya. "Weighing College's Cost Amid Covid". wsj.com.
  16. ^ Boppana, Shriya. "A Second Roaring '20s?". wsj.com.
  17. ^ Boppana, Shriya. "What College Rankings Don't Tell You". wsj.com.
  18. ^ Future View, WSJ Opinion. "AI and the Automation of Work for Gen Z". wsj.com.
  19. ^ "Is Capital Punishment Losing Support? - WSJ Opinion | Snapchat". www.snapchat.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  20. ^ "Becoming a Voice". becomingavoice.org. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  21. ^ Sanders, Monica (2023-08-03). "Young Change Makers Promoting Climate Action: Why and How Shriya Boppana of Becoming A Voice Is…". Authority Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  22. ^ "Media Perpetuation of Gender Imbalance - TEDxCMU Catalyst". deploy-preview-21--tedxcmu2021.netlify.app. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  23. ^ Boppana, Shriya (2021-04-26). Media Perpetuation of Gender Imbalance. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via www.ted.com.
  24. ^ "Special Guests". To The Future. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  25. ^ "TTF 2021 EPK". Her Campus Media. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  26. ^ "To The Future". To The Future. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  27. ^ United Nations Foundation. "Girl Up 2021 Leadership Summit" (PDF). amazonaws.com.
  28. ^ Shields, Brooke. "#GirlsGetLoud Campaign". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  29. ^ Brown, Bobbi. "Pretty Powerful Campaign". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  30. ^ "What Girls Have to Say about Girls' Rights in Afghanistan". She's the First. 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  31. ^ a b "FCPS Hall of Fame". Educate Fairfax. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  32. ^ "Alumni Achievements: Tepper Graduates Leading the Way". magazine.tepper.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  33. ^ a b "A week in the life of a 22-year-old intern at ViacomCBS — Assembly | Malala Fund". Assembly. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  34. ^ Becoming A Voice. "Bachpan Save the Innocence". becomingavoice.org.
  35. ^ "Work at Paramount". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  36. ^ "Assembly Publication, Malala Fund". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  37. ^ She's the First (2022-02-21). Be the Next Powerful Voice of the Youth | Project for Awesome 2022. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via YouTube.
  38. ^ Green, John and Hank. "Project 4 Awesome 2022". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  39. ^ United Nations Foundation, Girl Up. "Alum Shriya Boppana". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  40. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  41. ^ "TikTok - Make Your Day". www.tiktok.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  42. ^ Shriya Boppana (2023-07-02). Shriya Boppana: Fairfax County Public Schools Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via YouTube.
  43. ^ Girl Up. "Girl Up Global Leadership Summit". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  44. ^ Girl Up. "2024 Global Leadership Summit Program" (PDF). amazonaws.com.
  45. ^ Girl Up (2024-10-22). Educate Woman and Eradicate Poverty | 2024 Girl Up Global Leadership Summit. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via YouTube.
  46. ^ "Shriya Boppana". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  47. ^ TV9 USA (2024-11-05). US Election Results 2024 LIVE | Donald Trump Vs Kamala Harris - TV9 USA Exclusive. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)