Shriya Boppana

Shriya Boppana
Shriya Boppana in 2025
Born (1999-01-08) January 8, 1999
Alma materDuke University
Carnegie Mellon University
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Grand India USA 2025
Miss Grand United States Virgin Islands 2024
Miss India America 2020
Major
competition(s)
Miss Grand India USA 2025 (Winner)
Miss Grand United States Virgin Islands 2024 (Winner; Assumed)
Miss Earth DC 2022 (1st Runner-Up)
Miss India America (Winner)
Miss India DC (1st Runner-Up)
Websiteshriyaboppana.com

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] Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024, and Miss Grand India USA 2025.[2] Boppana is a broadcast journalist currently at WDCA (locally known as "FOX 5 Plus") in Washington, D.C.[3] and a consulting analyst at Accenture.[4]

Early life

Boppana was born In Hyderabad, Telangana[5] to a Telugu family. Her great-grandparents were freedom fighters.[6] Lingaya Gadde, who went to jail multiple times while taking part in the 1923 Civil Disobedience, Flag Satyagraha, and Quit India Movement.[7][8] Boppana's father served as a marine engineer in the U.S. Marine Corps.[9]

She was raised in Herndon, Virginia. She graduated from Herndon High School in 2017,[10] and later received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University in 2021.[11] 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.[4][12][13][14]

Pageantry

In September 2020, Boppana placed 1st Runner Up at Miss India DC 2020[11][15] and was later awarded Miss India America 2020 with a high-point interview award for perfect scores from all judges.[1][11][16]

In August 2022, Boppana placed 1st Runner Up at Miss Earth DC 2022[1] with a high-point interview award for perfect scores from all judges.[1]

On 25 March 2024, Boppana placed 1st Runner Up at Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024,[17] preliminary to Miss Grand International, also winning Miss Grand Smile,[17][18] Miss Grand Congeniality 2nd Runner Up,[18] and highest interview score.[19] She eventually assumed the title of Miss Grand United States Virgin Islands 2024[20][4] after the dethronement of the initial winner.

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.[21]

In April 2025, Boppana was announced as the winner of Miss Grand India USA 2025.[2][22]

Advocacy

In 2021, Boppana founded Becoming A Voice, a resource creation center for gender and sex crime advocacy content.[23][4] The organization holds sexual health education workshops in India and Nepal and provides resources and support to survivors of sex trafficking and sexual assault.[4]

In April 2021, Boppana became a student speaker for TedXCMU and presented a TedX talk delving into media's role in perpetuating gender stereotypes and imbalance.[24][16][1]

On 14 May 2021, Boppana was a featured student speaker thanking educators nationwide at Her Campus' 2021 graduation ceremony, Cheer to the Future.[25][26][27]

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.[28]

Boppana served as a Global Youth Ambassador for She's The First in 2021.[29][6][30]

As of October 2021, Boppana joined Indian child sexual assault prevention organization, Bachpan Save the Innocence, on the facilitation and design team.[9] With the organization, Boppana has educated 3,200 individuals at approximately 60 orphanages, schools and colleges with 10 different programs detailing safe and unsafe touch, consent and puberty, digital safety, cybercrime, sexual abuse and trafficking as of February 02, 2022.[31][9]

On December 5, 2023, Boppana made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for the inaugural Austin edition as a Activist and TV Personality.[3][32][33]

In October 2024, Boppana hosted a panel on girls' education rights at the United Nations Foundation's Girl Up 2024 Global Leadership Summit[34] alongside Diana award winner, Muzhda Akbari,[35] and STEM activist, Elisa Torres Durney.[36][37]

On March 11, 2025, Carnegie Mellon University released its annual Tartans on the Rise list[38] which recognized Boppana as an Anti-sex Trafficking Activist highlighting her as "fighting for Gender and Sexual Justice Around the World."[39]

On-Air personality

'Becoming A Voice with Shriya Boppana' produced by Global Television Networks first aired on the show Capital Forum[40] on WDCA (locally known as "FOX 5 Plus") in 2021.[41][6][3][11][42]

August 9, 2022, Boppana appears in The Wall Street Journal's 'Future View' Snapchat series episode on the pros and cons of the death penalty.[43]

On 3 August 2021, Boppana was featured in an episode of WJLA (locally known as "ABC 7 News") 'Future Leaders of America.'[10]

On 5 November 2024, Boppana made her TV9 debut covering the 2024 United States Presidential Election on TV9 Telugu in India and the TV9 USA YouTube Channel.[44]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Santaella, Francisco. "MEET SHRIYA BOPPANA, THE INDIAN-AMERICAN BEAUTY QUEEN INTENT ON MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE". Flaunt Magazine.
  2. ^ a b Paul, Chokita. "Deccan Chronicle - Two Cultures and a Crown". Retrieved 2025-06-07 – via PressReader.
  3. ^ a b c Team, Forbes Under 30. "30 Under 30 Local 2023: Austin". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-04-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e 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.
  5. ^ Ellwood, Mark (January 17, 2025). "A Booming Market for Life Coaches Means No Problem Is Too Small". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  6. ^ a b c "Shriya Boppana - Serve Virginia". 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  7. ^ 2021 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Government of India. "Gadde Lingaya". amritmahotsav.nic.in.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Lingaya University. "Lingaya University Prospectus" (PDF). mycampusreview.com.
  9. ^ a b c "A week in the life of a 22-year-old intern at ViacomCBS — Assembly | Malala Fund". Assembly. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  10. ^ a b Lynn, Kellye (2021-08-03). "Herndon resident uses platform to uplift others, giving a voice to the voiceless". WJLA. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  11. ^ a b c d University, Carnegie Mellon. "Advocacy Through Pageantry - News - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu.
  12. ^ "Is It Time for Business Schools to Dress Down? | AACSB". www.aacsb.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  13. ^ "Shriya Boppana – CASE at Duke". centers.fuqua.duke.edu. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  14. ^ "College students 'cautiously curious' about AI, despite mixed messages from schools, employers". Yahoo News. 2024-12-14. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  15. ^ "Shriya Boppana: Miss India America's life is all about giving back". Global Indian Youth. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  16. ^ a b Boppana, Shriya (2021-04-26). Media Perpetuation of Gender Imbalance. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via www.ted.com.
  17. ^ a b Brian Javier (2024-03-25). MISS GRAND US VIRGIN ISLAND FINALE 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ a b @GrandUSVirginIslands. "✨Recap of the 2024 Miss Grand US Virgin Islands Special Awards✨". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
  19. ^ Brian Javier (2024-03-24). Miss Grand US Virgin Islands Closed Door Interview!. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ @missteluguusaorg. "🌟 Judge Reveal! 🌟". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
  21. ^ @ShriyaBoppana. "MGI India Highlight". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
  22. ^ @MissTeluguUSAOrg. "🌟 Huge Congratulations to Shriya Boppana! 🌟". instagram. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
  23. ^ "Becoming a Voice". becomingavoice.org. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  24. ^ "Media Perpetuation of Gender Imbalance - TEDxCMU Catalyst". catalyst.tedxcmu.org. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  25. ^ "Special Guests". To The Future. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  26. ^ "TTF 2021 EPK". Her Campus Media. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  27. ^ "To The Future". To The Future. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  28. ^ United Nations Foundation. "Girl Up 2021 Leadership Summit" (PDF). amazonaws.com.
  29. ^ "What Girls Have to Say about Girls' Rights in Afghanistan". She's the First. 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  30. ^ She's the First (2022-02-21). Be the Next Powerful Voice of the Youth | Project for Awesome 2022. Retrieved 2025-06-23 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ "Alumni Achievements: Tepper Graduates Leading the Way". magazine.tepper.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  32. ^ "Meet the groundbreaking Austinites who made Forbes' first local '30 Under 30' list - CultureMap Austin". austin.culturemap.com. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  33. ^ Maxin, Ryan. "Forbes releases 30 Under 30 Local Austin list 2023. Here's who made the list". statesman.com. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  34. ^ Girl Up. "Girl Up Global Leadership Summit". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  35. ^ Rahmati, Fidel (2024-12-06). "Two Afghan activists receive 2024 Diana Award for advocating girls' education in Afghanistan". Khaama Press. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  36. ^ Girl Up. "2024 Global Leadership Summit Program" (PDF). amazonaws.com.
  37. ^ Girl Up (2024-10-22). Educate Woman and Eradicate Poverty | 2024 Girl Up Global Leadership Summit. Retrieved 2024-11-16 – via YouTube.
  38. ^ University, Carnegie Mellon. "Tartans on the Rise 2025 - Engage with CMU - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  39. ^ University, Carnegie Mellon. "Shriya Boppana, Anti-sex Trafficking Activist - Engage with CMU - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  40. ^ "Shriya Boppana". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  41. ^ "Shriya Bopanna | Miss India America | Forbes 30 Under 30". Global Indian Youth. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
  42. ^ University, Carnegie Mellon. "Two Tepper School Alumni Named to CMU's 2025 Tartans on the Rise - Tepper School of Business - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  43. ^ "Is Capital Punishment Losing Support? - WSJ Opinion | Snapchat". www.snapchat.com. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  44. ^ 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)