Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveHonoured by White House and Biden, Celebrated by Bush Family: How Shrusti Amula is leading change

Honoured by White House and Biden, Celebrated by Bush Family: How Shrusti Amula is leading change

Written by: Amrita Priya

With a warm smile, Joe Biden turned to Shrusti and said, “Well, Madam President, thank you.” The crowd chuckled as he continued, “Shrusti, thank you for that wonderful introduction. Just promise me this—when you are president one day, and someone says, ‘Joe Biden is in the waiting room,’ you won’t ask, ‘Joe who?’” His light-hearted comment drew laughter from the audience, and Shrusti, sharing in the humour, responded with a grin, “I won’t.”

Owing to her remarkable work with the Rise N Shine Foundation, the 18-year-old was invited to the 2024 White House Diwali celebration as a special guest. Her tireless efforts to combat food waste among the affluent and fight hunger in underserved communities have gained national attention in the U.S., earning her the honour of introducing the President of United States at this year’s Diwali event.

Biden’s playful yet encouraging words hinted at the immense potential he saw in the young Indian American to achieve even greater heights. The day was a significant milestone in Shrusti’s inspiring journey of service and leadership.

Indians in USA | Shrusti Amula | Global Indian

Awestruck by the honour

The Diwali event at the White House, attended by about 600 guests, left Shrusti awestruck. “This Diwali brought a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Shrusti shared with Global Indian. “Being invited to the White House was incredible, but standing next to the President and introducing him was beyond anything I ever imagined.”

She shared the stage with prominent Indian American figures like U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who sent a recorded message from space. “It was just me, Dr. Vivek Murthy, and Sunita Williams representing the Indian community, and I had the honour of inviting President Biden to the stage before he addressed the crowd,” Shrusti said, recounting the unforgettable moment.

But that wasn’t her only brush with national recognition this year. Just a week later in the first week of November, Shrusti found herself attending the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala, where she was honoured for her extraordinary philanthropic work. Meeting members of the former U.S. president George H. W. Bush’s family, including his son Neil Bush and grand-daughter Lauren Bush, was another surreal experience.

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Fighting hunger, combating food waste through Rise N Shine Foundation

“When I founded Rise N Shine foundation in 2019, I had a simple vision – to create a positive change to my community by reducing food waste and empowering young individuals to take action. Over the past six years Rise N Shine Foundation has provided over 350,000 meals, and diverted over 200,000 pounds of food waste from landfills,” she shared amidst applause during the George W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala.

It was a humbling experience for the young Georgetown University student, majoring in Science, Technology, and International Affairs, to be in a room filled with people who have dedicated their lives to service. These honours didn’t come by chance—Shrusti has spent the last six years leading transformational efforts to make a difference. “It reinforced my belief that no action is too small to make a difference,” she remarked.

Indians in USA | Shrusti Amula | Global Indian

Shrusti at 2024 George W. Bush Points of Light Award function with members of the Bush family and other delegates

From vision to action

Shrusti’s journey began in 2018 when she stumbled upon the staggering environmental impact of food waste during a STEM competition, where she presented a project on food waste and its potential solutions. After learning that nearly a third of the U.S. food supply is wasted annually, she realised how this problem exacerbated issues like climate change and food insecurity.

One of her ideas—diverting food waste to composting facilities, became the foundation for her first pilot program. “It all started with a simple idea,” she recalled. “But the more I worked on it, the more I realised how much of a difference one person can make.” The success of that program gave her the confidence to scale her efforts and eventually start the Rise N Shine Foundation in 2019, when she was just 14.

“When I founded Rise N Shine, my vision was simple, to create positive change by reducing food waste and empowering others to take action,” Shrusti said during her Points of Light Award acceptance speech. Over the years, her foundation has delivered on that promise, making a measurable difference in her community and beyond.

Shrusti with her brother, Vayun Amula, during one of the food donation campaigns

Composting and food recovery

Shrusti launched her first composting program at Clarksburg Elementary School. Her team collected leftover food from lunchrooms and converted it into compost, reducing the school’s waste footprint and creating a valuable resource for local farmers. The success of this pilot project led to partnerships with more schools. By June 2024, all 209 schools in Montgomery County adopted her composting initiatives.

“Unused food in our country contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions,” the Indian American explained. “Through composting, we’re not just addressing waste but also giving back to the environment.”

In addition to composting, Shrusti expanded her efforts to tackle food recovery. Her foundation works with schools, businesses, and local organisations to redistribute surplus food to homeless shelters and food banks.

The COVID-19 pandemic made her efforts even more significant. “With rising food insecurity, it became clear that food recovery wasn’t just about waste reduction—it was about feeding those in need,” she says.

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Recognitions that fuel the mission

Shrusti Amula’s dedication to creating meaningful change has earned her an impressive array of national and international accolades. In 2024, her Rise N Shine Foundation was also recognized as an Honour Rows recipient, an initiative by the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, M&T Bank, and the Baltimore Ravens, celebrating her foundation’s impact on community service. In 2023, she was selected as part of Hormel Foods’ 10 Under 20 Food Heroes, a program spotlighting young leaders across the U.S. working toward a more sustainable and secure food system.

Reflecting on her experience at Hormel’s global headquarters in Austin, Minnesota, Shrusti shared, “It was incredible to connect with Hormel Foods leaders and learn from their expertise while exploring opportunities to scale the impact of our projects.”

These recognitions join an already impressive list of honours. Shrusti was the youngest recipient of the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Award in 2023, a platform she leveraged to expand the reach of her foundation. She also received the EPA President’s Environmental Youth Award and the Governor’s Youth Service Award the same year, highlighting her leadership in community-driven sustainability.

For Shrusti, these accolades go beyond the spotlight. “Each award is a reminder that small actions can lead to big changes,” she says. “They inspire me to keep pushing for a more sustainable and equitable future.”

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Challenges along the way

Like any grassroots initiative, Shrusti’s journey was not without its challenges. From securing funding to navigating logistical hurdles, she faced significant roadblocks. “One of our biggest struggles was finding sponsors to cover the costs of hauling food waste for an entire school year,” she said.

Despite these obstacles, Shrusti persisted. Her programs now run smoothly and have even influenced policy changes at the county level. Schools participating in her initiatives have earned Green School certifications, further validating her work.

Beyond environmental activism

While her environmental work takes centre stage, Shrusti’s accomplishments extend far beyond the Rise N Shine Foundation. A trained Indian classical dancer and member of the USA National Women’s Cricket Team, she is a well-rounded achiever who balances her passion projects with personal growth. She is also a mentor, debater, and a Girl Scout with bronze and silver awards to her name.

Her diverse interests and achievements make her a role model for young people, proving that it’s possible to excel in multiple areas while making a meaningful impact.

Indians in USA | Rise N Shine Foundation | Global Indian

Shrusti at the mayor and council meeting in 2022

A light that shines bright

Shrusti Amula’s journey youth-led change and a matter of pride for the Indian diaspora. From standing on a stage at the White House to meeting the Bush family at an awards gala, her story exemplifies how dedication and innovation can transform lives.

Her vision for the future is ambitious. She aims to expand the Rise N Shine Foundation globally, partnering with international organisations to tackle food waste and hunger on a larger scale.

As she continues to advocate for sustainability and social equity, Shrusti’s message is clear: “No matter your age or background, you have the power to make a difference. All it takes is the courage to start.”

Follow Shrusti Amula on LinkedIn and her website
Follow Rise N Shine Foundation’s work on Instagram

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Published on 21, Nov 2024

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Maanasa Mendu empowers the world: A teen’s mission for global electricity access

(December 20, 2023) She was all of 14 when Ohio-born Maanasa Mendu made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, making her the youngest person ever to achieve the feat. But behind this recognition was an invention that could be a potential answer to the global energy crisis. The same innovation won her the grand prize in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and $25,000. It all began when she first visited her grandparents in rural India for her summer break, and witnessed persistent blackouts. Seeing children huddled over a single kerosene lamp made her sit up and take notice of the grave issue at hand, and decided to make a difference. That's when she designed Harvest – an energy harvesting device that combines piezoelectric effect that harvests energy from sun, wind and precipitation. [caption id="attachment_34746" align="aligncenter" width="549"] Maanasa Mendu[/caption] The trip to India played an pivotal role in helping her search for answers. Upon her research, she spent hours at length digging deep into information and found that 88 percent of the energy supply comes from non-renewable sources, which are not only harmful to the environment but also depleting. A renewable source was the answer. However, its

ormation and found that 88 percent of the energy supply comes from non-renewable sources, which are not only harmful to the environment but also depleting. A renewable source was the answer. However, its high cost played a spoiler. That's when Maanasa decided to design an "inexpensive and potentially globally application energy solution."

"Imagine a place where life ends after dark, where there are no electric lights for school work or refrigeration for perishables. This is not part of some dystopian society – it’s a part of our world today. Over 1.2 billion people lack access to electricity," Maanasa said in TedX talk.

When she was 11 years old, she learned about something called the piezoelectric effect, which is when certain materials create electricity when pressure is applied. She discovered this while reading about a railway station in Japan with floors that produce electricity from people walking on them. This got her excited about finding a renewable energy solution.

After a year of researching and reading, she got the idea for a device shaped like a leaf that could harness energy from the wind and rain. The inspiration came to her while watching tree branches sway during a storm. These branches looked like piezoelectric materials to her—tiny devices that generate power through vibration. This motivated her to start working on her first design.

Initially, she wanted to focus only on using the wind for power, but she ended up creating a prototype that can harness energy from both the sun and the wind, as well as the vibrations from raindrops. Her device has three solar "leaves" that act like solar panels but also move with the wind and rain. She built the prototype using recycled materials for only $5. Her design won her the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

"The issue with the energy crisis lies not in the fact that we lack ideas or solutions to solve it, but rather in the fact that we are unable to get these solutions to the people who need it the most,” said Maanasa.

When she started designing the device, she was only thinking about using the wind for energy, especially in cities where traditional wind turbines don't work well. However, as she worked on it, she realized that there are other sources of untapped energy around us, like the sun and rain. She thought, "If my device only depends on one specific thing, the amount of power it produces might change throughout the day. But if it depends on multiple things, like how sunny it is, how fast the wind is blowing, and whether it's raining, all these factors together could make a more steady source of power with more energy."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEDvTJT5o7Q

Maanasa reveals that Harvest can power a 15watt LED bulb after three hours of charging. It took her three years to come up with Harvest, that has the potential to be the answer to the global energy crisis, and she says that it was curiosity that led her to the solution. Currently studying Neuroscience and Global Health and Health Policy at Harvard College, Maanasa is an aspiring physician and public health researcher. Apart from developing a renewable energy device to address energy poverty, she is also identifying video-based biomarkers for delirium, exploring heart-brain neural circuits in zebrafish, and studying cancer incidence among people with HIV in Botswana.

Follow Maanasa Mendu on X

Fighting spirit: Pooja Nagpal trains rural girls in self-defence

(December 13, 2022) "Didi, I need to protect myself." Pooja Nagpal was taken aback, to say the least, by the diminutive teenager who stood before her, hand in a sling. The girl, Neha, had been beaten by a family member and knew she had to learn to defend herself. Pooja, an Indian-American activist with a second-level black belt in Taekwondo, is the founder of For a Change, Defend, a non-profit that teaches girls self-defence techniques. In 2013, soon after the Nirbhaya tragedy, Pooja arrived in the upper mountain areas of Himachal Pradesh, to take a crash course in self-defence for young girls there. A determination to prevail "Neha’s grandmother had told her that girls can't laugh, her brother got more food from her, she had been told that there was no point in girls being educated past the ninth grade, that she had to wear a veil when guests came home. How does anyone have an ounce of confidence in that environment," Pooja demands. From that point on, Neha became her most dedicated student, staying back after class to ask questions, determined to perfect every kick and punch. On Independence Day that year, 250 of Pooja's students demonstrated in front of an

rmined to perfect every kick and punch.

On Independence Day that year, 250 of Pooja's students demonstrated in front of an audience. Neha, who was holding the Indian flag in her hand, addressed the crowd, saying, "The time is now. We need to start fighting for women's equality. Parents, teachers, and family members need to understand the power that girls can bring to the future of India." Pooja, who was watching, realised at that moment the true power that a fighting spirit can bring.

[caption id="attachment_25318" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Pooja Nagpal[/caption]

Pooja opens her ted talk in Manhattan Beach with a kick and a 'kihap', which is a traditional shout and rapid exhalation of breath used in Taekwondo. The sound is as essential to the kick as the movement itself, a means to concentrate a martial artist's power. "It is a declaration of one's fighting spirit and the determination to prevail," she told her audience.

Discovering India

Pooja's parents were both born in India and hers was a "bilingual household," the young Global Indian explains. Growing up in Manhattan Beach in the United States, she would listen eagerly as her parents told her stories of the rich, Indian culture, of the "rush of colours and festivities and the euphoria." More than anything else, however, she loved Indian mythology. She was in awe of the Goddess Durga, who rode into battle on a lion and destroyed demons, who was the protector of all living things. She loved the elegance of Goddess Saraswati, seated atop a white lotus, the Goddess of learning and knowledge. "Growing up," she says, "These were my superheroes. They are powerful women with a unique, symbolic fighting spirit who help and protect the vulnerable."

As she grew older, however, the enchantment of Indian mythology gave way to a hidden dark side. She heard stories of violence and discrimination against women and girls. "There are girls who were defeated before they had begun to dream. They are stripped of their fighting spirit. The determination is not to prevail, but to survive." In 2012, the stories she had heard became more real and frightening than she could have imagined, with the Nirbhaya tragedy rocking the country - and the world. She knew something had to be done.

The time to act

"How could this happen in a country so beautiful and so magical," she asked. Activists around the world swung into action, all fighting for women's safety and rights. They worked to raise awareness, towards strength in numbers and changes at the legislative level. Pooja felt this could only be one part of the solution.

[caption id="attachment_25316" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Pooja Nagpal[/caption]

While it was a wonderful effort, the fact remained that women continue to face violence every day and, in most cases, there are no repercussions for the perpetrators. In India, women are unsafe both in private and public spaces, with violence meted out in various forms, including eve-teasing, domestic violence, mental and physical torture, and marital rape. And it was a problem, she soon learned, that was not exclusive to developing countries; there was domestic violence everywhere, from Los Angeles to Ladakh.

Training girls in rural India

In 2013, trying to earn her 'Gold Award for Girl Scouts, Pooja travelled to Himachal Pradesh with her sister, to teach self-defence at a village there. She arrived there to find young girls giggling and chatting together, much like she did with her friends back home. Pooja was, however, starkly aware of the fact that their "futures were worlds apart."

Pooja was wary at first, she was not sure how she would be received in a remote, rural region in a developing country. To her surprise, she was welcomed. "I was determined to give the girls what a kihap had given me," she said, in her TEDx Talk. "A fighting spirit and the determination to prevail." She worked flexibility, physical strength, self-defence, and mental confidence into her curriculum, spending around three hours a day training the girls.

The girls were weak - physically and mentally. She taught them the kihap. "As the weeks went on, they became louder and stronger," she recalled, smiling. After class, they would sit down to discuss role models, or the girls would make speeches to their classmates. "Many of these girls had never been asked, 'What do you want to be when you grow up'?" When she asked a 14-year-old, Rakhi, what she wanted to be, the girl's eyes were downcast. She was married, she said. She would be a housewife.

For A Change, Defend

The following year, Pooja Nagpal created her non-profit, For a Change, Defend. She returned to various rural schools in India, turning down offers from private schools that wanted her to teach martial arts lessons. "I wished to teach lower income girls, especially in rural areas that tend to be those that need the most help, since, in these areas, cases mostly go unreported,” she said.

Pooja also worked with Kiran Bedi, as she trained over 500 girls and women in various villages and slums. Bedi gave her a valuable piece of advice. "Start with six girls, then go to 60, then 600. Soon, you will have a six million-girl revolution. There is power in acting and power in activism." She watched the young girls she trained transform before her eyes. "They learned a fighting spirit and a determination to prevail. None of this could have been done without the kihap."

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Paris 2024: Hyderabadi table tennis champ Sreeja Akula all set for Olympics

(July 8, 2024) With the Olympics just around the corner, India's rising star in table tennis, Sreeja Akula does not feel the pressure. “This is my first Olympics, and I am as prepared as I can be. I will give it my best shot and not worry about the rest,” the upcoming Olympian tells Global Indian. The Arjuna Award winner is currently ranked 25th in the world and comes off a great year that saw her go from strength to strength. 2024 was a watershed year for the young player as she became the first Indian women table tennis player to win international tournaments courtesy of her victories at the WTT Feeder, Corpus Christi, Texas, and the WTT Feeder, Beirut II. The right-handed player who plays both singles and doubles has performed at the highest levels over the past years by consistently beating formidable players from Korea and China. The paddler’s story is one of perseverance and triumph, making her one of the most promising athletes on the Indian sports scene. [caption id="attachment_38518" align="aligncenter" width="519"] Sreeja Akula[/caption] Family matters Sreeja's initiation into table tennis began at the age of nine, when her parents enrolled her in a local coaching center.

obalindian.com/youth///wp-content/uploads/2024/07/sreeja-1024x1024.png" alt="Sreeja Akula | Table Tennis | 2024 Paris Olympics | Global Indian" width="519" height="519" /> Sreeja Akula[/caption]

Family matters

Sreeja's initiation into table tennis began at the age of nine, when her parents enrolled her in a local coaching center. Recognizing her potential, her coach encouraged her to participate in various state-level tournaments.

“My father used to play table tennis, as did my sister Ravali, so I sort of grew up watching them play and was obsessed with becoming a good player. Also, I was very weak as a child, so my parents encouraged me to play as it helped to build my stamina,” she states.

Having trained at St. Paul’s Academy, the YMCA, and then at the academy started by her coach, Somnath Ghosh, Sreeja’s childhood was spent mostly on courts in Hyderabad.

Sporting stars are not born in isolation. The young sporting star saw immense sacrifices made by her family. With both parents (mother Sai Sudha and father Praveen Kumar) in insurance, one of them constantly accompanied her as she played in tournaments across the country, traveling by trains and buses, always supporting her along the way.

She recalls, “My father had to shift from a government job to the private sector just so that he could afford the expenses of travel and tournaments. My mother learned to ride a two-wheeler so that she could pick us up and drop us off at the academy. My grandparents took over running the household, as either of my parents used to constantly be on the move along with me. I am here because of my entire family.”

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Rising through the ranks

It was all this grit and hard work that helped Sreeja Akula make her mark very early on in her career. Just two years after she started playing (in 2009), she won her first medal (bronze) at the national championships and never really looked back.

Sreeja Akula's rise through the ranks of Indian table tennis has been nothing short of meteoric. She made her mark on the national scene with her performances in the National Table Tennis Championships. In 2017, she won the Junior National Championship, showcasing her talent and signaling her arrival on the big stage.

Her transition from the junior to the senior level was seamless. Sreeja's consistent performances earned her a place on the Indian national team.

2022 was a breakout year, where she clinched the gold (mixed doubles) at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Sreeja also claimed the Senior National Championship in 2022 in women’s singles, successfully defending the title she first won in 2021.

Incidentally, the sportswoman is good at her studies too and spent time traveling hooked on her studies. She laughs, “Academics and sports are my twin loves. I used to travel to tournaments with my text books. I scored a 9.5 GPA in my tenth grade, thanks to my teachers at Rosary Convent, and 96% in my 12th grade.”

Balancing act

Since her childhood, Sreeja spent her time on the court. Did she ever miss out on the regular growing-up activities of going to the movies and hanging out at a mall with friends? “I really don’t believe in having regrets. I always enjoyed playing table tennis, and there was no pressure on me from anyone. Of course, sport requires some sacrifices, but then so does anything if you want to excel,” she explains.

Women players from Hyderabad have really made it big in recent years, from Sania Mirza and Saina Nehwal to PV Sindhu and Nikhat Zareen, as Sreeja joins the big league. Is the sporting environment more conducive for women now? “I’ve been really lucky to have the unstinted support of my family at every stage. Also, I’m an employee of RBI and have support from the Deccan Sports Foundation. Things are definitely looking up for women as we see more and more women athletes make their mark. Also I’ve never really been discriminated against due to my gender.”

Along with her physical fitness, the table tennis star has been working on her mental fitness too, practicing yoga and meditation for ten years. Focusing on the troika of technical skills, physical fitness, and mental toughness, she is today a formidable player on the court.

The Olympic journey

As Sreeja Akula sets her sights on the Paris Olympics in 2024, her journey so far provides a strong foundation for her aspirations. Part of the historic India women’s team to have qualified for the first time for the Olympics, Sreeja is well on her way to achieving her dream of winning a medal on the biggest sports stage.

One of the critical factors in Sreeja’s favor is her experience and exposure to international competitions. Competing against the best players in the world has honed her skills and given her the confidence to face tough challenges. Her ability to adapt to different playing styles and conditions is a significant advantage as she prepares for the Olympics.

"Everyone keeps asking me about the Olympic medal, but I approach every game as if it were an Olympic match. Each victory matters. I take this competition seriously, but it's no different from any other game I play. The Olympics are wonderful, but winning or losing isn't everything. I aim to remain consistent in my outlook, regardless of the outcomes," she explains.

Sreeja Akula’s journey is an inspiring story of passion, perseverance, and hard work. With her skills, experience, and determination, she surely has the potential to bring home an Olympic medal and make India proud. The road to Paris in 2024 is challenging, but a billion Indians are in her corner.

Quick takes

Favorite athletes: Saina Nehwal and Sachin Tendulkar.
When not training: Love reading.
Next target: To be ranked in the top 20 in the world.
Advice to young players: Keep improving and don’t succumb to pressure and expectations. Also, remember that there are no short cuts to success, only hard work and dedication.

Follow Sreeja Akula on Instagram.

Geraldine Viswanathan: Half Indian-half Swiss actress lights up Hollywood

(November 1, 2022) Born to an Indian doctor father and a Swiss artist mother, Hollywood actress Geraldine Viswanathan grew up in Australia with a deep love for horses and acting. After appearing in a Kodak television commercial when she was four years old, Geraldine began honing her acting skills. Geraldine who has also worked as a voice artist grew up deeply loving performing arts as part of her upbringing. Her mother Anja Raith who runs an acting school, attended musical theatre school in London and was an aspiring actress before getting married to her Tamil descent father Suresh Viswanathan. Geraldine’s maternal grandfather was a ballet dancer and film maker. The actress, who has been in the Hollywood Reporter’s ‘Nex Gen Talent,’ list as one of the 20 rising stars of the industry, is passionate about horses. “I came out of the womb loving horses, I don’t know what happened,” she joked in an interview with W Magazine. Groomed to be a star The 1995-born actress attended the Hunter School of Performing Arts at New Castle, Australia, enrolling in drama classes when she was in kindergarten. Although she was young, she was determined to begin preparing for what she knew would

style="font-weight: 400;">“I came out of the womb loving horses, I don’t know what happened,” she joked in an interview with W Magazine.

Groomed to be a star

The 1995-born actress attended the Hunter School of Performing Arts at New Castle, Australia, enrolling in drama classes when she was in kindergarten. Although she was young, she was determined to begin preparing for what she knew would be her future.

[caption id="attachment_23669" align="aligncenter" width="804"] Geraldine with Daniel Radcliffe[/caption]

“I remember being in this play when I was in grade five. I never got any leading roles, but I did get one little comedic bit part and I remember getting a laugh and feeling pretty cool about it,” she said in an interview with wwd.com.

When Geraldine turned 15, her family moved to Los Angeles for a few months. It became a turning point for the actress, who turned this family move into an opportunity to set a base in America, securing a manager for starting a career in Hollywood. Australia had comparatively limited options for her in acting, outside the stereotypical work.

[caption id="attachment_23672" align="aligncenter" width="839"] Geraldine with her co-star[/caption]

At the end of her family’s stay, she came back to Australia with them but continued working on her career. She would send audition tapes to her manager in America, while performing standup and sketch comedy with her group, Freudian Nip, back in Australia as she waited for her big break.

When she turned 20, Geraldine was selected for the Heath Ledger Scholarship, that gets awarded to an emerging Australian actors with extraordinary ability and dedication to their craft.

Amidst all the developments in Australia, she remained committed to her American dream and later after making big in Hollywood, told in an interview to Insider, "Here in America I didn't feel held back by my ethnicity, which was a really exciting feeling."

[caption id="attachment_23671" align="aligncenter" width="941"] Geraldine with her Miracle Workers team[/caption]

The big break

In 2016, Geraldine was cast to appear in the film, Emo the Musical in Australia where she had a very small part to play. The following year she joined the cast of ABC’s drama series Janet King in the country that she calls home - Australia.

It was in 2018 that she got her breakout role as an actor in the film Blockers in the US. She played the role of one of the teens whose parents are determined to not let them lose their virginity on the night of their high school prom, while the teens are hell bent on doing so. The film turned out to be the surprise comedy hit of the year. Geraldine’s role was acknowledged, and her dream of having a career in America finally saw the light of the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vhy589rkgU

Following this, she went on to work on two critically acclaimed movies Bad Education where she played an Indian character, and Hala in which she portrayed the role of a girl from Pakistan. Both films earned rave reviews at Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. Bad Education even managed some Emmy nominations.

Reel and real

In 2020 Geraldine starred in Selena Gomez-production, The Broken Hearts Gallery at Toronto, Canada. It was a breakthrough movie for her in many ways. She not only starred alongside a fellow Australian actor Dacre Montgomery but also like her real life she portrayed the character of a Brown girl whose mother is blonde. The reel mother even looked similar to her real mother.

Just a few years into her career, the actress enjoys a fairly large fan base and has shared the screen with established stars like Allison Janney, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Radcliffe. She has been playing recurring roles in the Australian series Janet King, and TBS comedy anthology, Miracle Workers in the US which is in its third season.

[caption id="attachment_23667" align="aligncenter" width="872"] Geraldine on the set of Miracle Workers[/caption]

She’s also possibly the first person to tell co-star Daniel Radcliffe that she hasn’t watched the Harry Potter films because she found them too scary. She was eight years old when she saw the first Harry Potter film and Geraldine was so terrified, she had to leave in the middle.

The actress, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, has subsequently given some more good performances in films like The Package, Cat Person, and The Beanie Bubble. She likes to work on projects that are ‘socially conscious’. Geraldine is always on lookout for acting opportunities that have a ‘fresh take’ on life and allow her to ‘explore different sides’ of herself.

The Viswanathans

Though Geraldine and her sister Indira have not travelled much to India, the actress is connected to the country through her Indian grandparents, who live in Australia. “My grandma is an incredible cook. She cooks biryani, and sambhar and chapati and poori – for me and my sister, that’s our favourite. South Indian food definitely feels homely to me,” she declared in an interview with Business Standard.

[caption id="attachment_23670" align="aligncenter" width="695"] Geraldine with her sister and parents[/caption]

The actress who is fondly called Yoyo by her loved ones, finds great support in her mom who always has some tips to give to her daughter in acting. Viswanathan home is never bereft of animals, they love their cats, and dogs as much as their horses.

Follow Geraldine Viswanathan on Instagram

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Divita Rai: The architect who contested Miss India pageant twice to be on Miss Universe platform

(October 9, 2022) Miss India Universe Divita Rai will have to wait a little longer to represent India on the Miss Universe platform. The annual global event which was scheduled to be held later this year has been shifted to January 14, 2023. It would be the 71st pageant in the world of Miss Universe to crown the winner of 2022 at New Orleans, Louisiana. Participants from 90 countries would be competing for the coveted crown that would be passed over by Harnaaz Sandhu of India, the current title-holder whose reign has been extended. [caption id="attachment_22779" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Divita Rai, Miss Diva 2022 will be representing India in next Miss Universe pageant[/caption] While every Indian is waiting for India to script history by two back-to-back wins, the pressure is high on Divita. To meet the expectations, and slay more when the days of wait have been prolonged, is something that she seems to have taken in her stride. If she wins, India would be the second country to win back-to-back crowns, after Venezuela. Pressure is good. To have people who have expectations from me gives me excitement to bring out the best version of me. More than the pressure, I

g that she seems to have taken in her stride.

If she wins, India would be the second country to win back-to-back crowns, after Venezuela.

Pressure is good. To have people who have expectations from me gives me excitement to bring out the best version of me. More than the pressure, I view it as an incredible opportunity to represent my country. How many of us get such an opportunity!

Divita said in a joint interview with Harnaaz Sandhu, the reigning Miss Universe who made India proud last year by bringing home the crown after a gap of 21 years.

[caption id="attachment_22780" align="aligncenter" width="936"] Divita after being crowned Miss Diva by reigning Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu[/caption]

The win would make Divita the fourth Indian beauty to get the title home, after Sushmita Sen (1994), Lara Dutta (2000) and Harnaaz Sandhu (2021).

Decision to give second shot despite second-runner up crown paid off

Divita evokes hope because of her attitude to win. The Miss Diva pageant in which she was chosen to represent India in the Miss Universe competition was not her first rodeo. She had participated in the contest last year too and was placed third to Harnaaz Sandhu. Instead of basking in the glory of being the second runner up, she chose to push herself harder, and eventually the Global Indian got successful in claiming the Miss India crown, finally earning her chance to represent the country in the global platform of Miss Universe.

[caption id="attachment_22783" align="aligncenter" width="870"] Grand welcome of Divita when she visited Mangalore after winning Miss Diva title[/caption]

Serious about issues that plague society

Born in Mangalore, Divita moved to several cities across India due to her father’s job requirements. She soaked in valuable lessons of life learned from people from diverse backgrounds and cultures from a very young age, turning into a versatile and sensitive human being.

On the occasion of Dusshera 2022, Divita associated herself with child rights and visited a CRY centre at the heart of Asia’s second largest slum in Mumbai. She believes that her education has taken her far and is determined to work towards making quality education accessible to kids and motivate them to keep learning. Her concern for education of underprivileged kids comes from a very personal experience as her father had to overcome immense financial difficulties to complete his education.

[caption id="attachment_22781" align="aligncenter" width="842"] Divita at the CRY event on the day of Dusshera[/caption]

Other than education, the second significant issue close to Divita’s heart is women at work. In fact, she has been so passionate about the issue that as part of her final year thesis, as a student of Architecture she had chosen to research workplace culture for women. Deeply believing how imperative it is for merit to shine irrespective of gender or circumstances, her story is of gathering courage to come back well prepared, and rise above the fear of failure to achieve one’s goal.

A little background…

Until 2010, the top three contestants at the Miss India or Femina Miss India were crowned as Femina Miss India-Universe, Femina Miss India-World, and Femina Miss India-Asia Pacific (which was later renamed as Femina Miss Earth).

However, in 2010, a new contest, ‘I Am She - Miss Universe India’ was introduced to separately select India's representatives to Miss Universe. Later, in 2013, due to a change in the acquiring rights, the contest got renamed as Miss Diva.

The making of the diva

Divita attributes the title of ‘Miss Diva’, which she proudly holds, to her mother and grandmother. While growing up, her mom and grandma would dress her up as Miss India on several occasions, instilling a belief that she could be Miss India. As she grew up, the youngster realised that it is something that she would really like to pursue.

Navigating her way through the modelling industry and the world of pageantry was quite easy as she had found a support system in her family.

[caption id="attachment_22784" align="aligncenter" width="516"] Little Divita with her grandma[/caption]

She said in an interview:

Although my parents grew up with restricted dreams of what to pursue as a profession. My brother and I had the freedom to choose whatever we wanted to, but we were told to ensure that we put our soul and heart to manifest that into reality.

The Karnataka girl who now lives in Mumbai, pursued modelling and architecture from Sir JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai simultaneously.

PCOS cannot stop girls from reaching great heights

September happens to be the PCOS awareness month, dedicated to enhance education and advocacy of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – a hormonal disorder that affects one in five girls in India. Globally, 1.55 million women of reproductive age experience PCOS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KFhcsvGc0o

Divita has gone all out on several platforms opening up about her battle with PCOS, stating:

It's okay for women to go through this condition but it's important for them to talk about it.

She often finds its challenging to maintain a good lifestyle to prevent the health condition from aggravating. As girls undergo several bodily changes and mental health issues related to it, Divita stands tall as an example that one can achieve milestones despite odds.

From the Miss India’s history of international victories:

Reita Faria was the first Miss India ever to win any international beauty pageant. She was crowned Miss World 1966 in London. She became the first Miss World from not just India but from entire Asia.
Sushmita Sen is the country’s first Miss Universe winner in 1994.
India's appearances at the semi-finals of Miss Universe from 1992 to 2002 made it the first country of the Eastern Hemisphere to contest annually at the pageant for at least 10 consecutive years.
In 2010, Nicole Faria became the first Indian to win the Miss Earth pageant.
Six years after Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai's double wins in 1994 as Miss Universe and Miss World respectively, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra repeated the feat in 2000. Though some countries have had dual wins like these previously but since the year 2000 of India’s dual win, no country has won Miss Universe and Miss World in the same year.

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