Odisha Tribal Girl Dreams Big, Wins Miss Photogenic Title In Jakarta Pageant

A tribal girl from Odisha’s Koraput has put the state on global map by winning Miss India International Photogenic title at a beauty pageant in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Santwana B Simran belongs to the Koraputia Desia tribe of Mathalput under Semiliguda block in Koraput.

“I am very excited,” she said after winning the crown, a first for her community.

Susmita Sen and Priyanka Chopra have been an inspiration for this Plus II science student.

However, it was only a few months back that she started participating in beauty pageants. She won the Miss Koraput title this year after winning the Kerry’s Mr. & Miss Koraput 2019 contest.

Simran wants her people dream big. “We live in a backward region, where people don’t know what is big. I want to spread awareness among women, children and farmers of my region, which is rich in minerals,” she told the NDTV.

But she is already dreaming big. Miss Femina, India, Miss World and Global India are next on her list to conquer.

Her determination can be gauged from the fact that she could make it to the Jakarta event despite financial constraints. Her family had reportedly approached Koraput Collector Madhusudan Mishra, following which he wrote to NALCO of Damanjodi to provide the necessary finance to help her take part in the international contest.