Indian American beauty queen Shree Saini collapses before competition

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An Indian American beauty queen, Shree Saini, collapsed and was hospitalized the night of the Miss World America competition, in Las Vegas. She is being watched for ‘cardiac arrest watch’, according to a family member, said media reports.

“Please pray for my daughter Shree Saini. This is Ekta Saini, Shree’s mom. Shree collapsed right before Miss World America final night of competition, which started with evening gown,” read a post shared on Instagram on Sunday.

Saini’s mother wrote: “They called me backstage after the ambulance had arrive, ready to take Shree to the hospital. Shree was so happy and joyful all day and did a great job yesterday at the Miss World America preliminary round. I heard that Shree won five out of six awards during today’s final night of competition.”

“We have been in hospital since 9pm. They are doing cat scan, EKG, etc. Doctors just told me that less than 1% people at age 12 have a Pacemaker. So Shree will stay in hospital for a ‘cardiac arrest watch’. Prayers requested.”

Shree has survived severe facial burns, constant bullying, and a heart surgery for a pacemaker at age 12. Shree’s childhood dream to serve as Miss World, led her to change her adversities to advocacy, have a victor mindset, rather than victim mindset, according to the official site of Miss World America, reported IANS.

Saini, who has studied at Yale University and Harvard University, has created an app on emotional health at Stanford University.

While Shree was still under observation, the Miss World America organization reached the hospital to give Shree five awards—’Beauty With A Purpose Award, ‘Top Influencers Award,’ ‘Entrepreneur Challenge Award,’ ‘1st Runner Up Talent Award,’ and ‘1st Runner Up Top Model Award’—that she won as a run-up to the final round.

Saini from Washington State, who was interviewed last year by News India Times when she won the Miss India Worldwide pageant in New Jersey, said on Facebook Sept. 29, “Thanks to God, mentors and judges, I made “Top 5 Talent” for “Miss World America” among my fellow sisters.”

Saini was also Miss India USA in 2017.

“It is my honor and privilege to be among these incredible women, who are brilliant, insanely talented and great community servants in their states,” Saini went on to say of her entry into the final leg of the competition.

In an interview with News India Times after she won the Miss India Worldwide contest Saini said the question that plagued her from childhood was “why are so many people so poor?”

“And I still have that question plaguing me. I want to make a radical difference, and my dream is to be able to do that through this pageant and my experiences,” Saini said.

As Miss World Washington, Saini is also part of the Beauty With A Purpose project (#BeautywithaPurpose) which she says is the “very best part” of competing for Miss World America.

“As your servant leader and a heart patient, I have been working with heart health through American Heart Association and I have also been speaking about the value of Emotional Wellbeing all around the world,” Saini noted on Facebook. She was also recently chosen as the “National Ambassador” for “Victoria’s Voice” a non-profit founded by parents of Victoria Siegel, who died of a drug overdose in 2015.

According to Saini’s profile on the pageant website, she has given 100s of presentations in over 80 cities and 6 countries, written 400 some articles in newspapers on emotional fitness, and has helped fundraise over $800,000 via her nonprofit shreesaini.org.