Unnathi Surana, 16, and Sharan Delhivala, 21, from Ahmedabad had been topped as Miss India and Mr India with Down Syndrome 2022 within the first such pageant held for Indians with the genetic dysfunction.
Organised by the Down Syndrome Federation of India and Bengaluru-based Happiness is Khushi, an academic academy for folks with completely different skills, the occasion was held in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur from September 15 to 17.
Khushi Shah, 8, from Bengaluru, who was the youngest contestant, bagged the titles of Miss Assured Smile and Miss Expertise, whereas Riza Reji from Bengaluru bagged the primary prize within the expertise class of above 15 years.
In accordance with the pageant’s organisers, the competition had three rounds – a ramp stroll, a speech by the contestants and a expertise present. The 15 finalists had been chosen from a shortlist of 40 members throughout India and over the previous one month, underwent one-on-one grooming classes held by particular educators.
Dr Rekha Ramachandran, president of the Down Syndrome Federation of India and the pageant’s chief patron, mentioned, “By this platform, we try to vary the mindset of those that assume folks with Down Syndrome are struggling, which isn’t true. We wish the world to see and perceive that these people aren’t solely able to dance, drama or music, however they’re much past that and may carry out in magnificence pageants too and we’re happy with them.”
Tejal Shah, founder and director of Happiness of Khushi and convenor of the pageant, mentioned, “These with Down syndrome are clever people who can obtain something which they put their minds to. This pageant will enhance their confidence, which provides a way of safety and is the important thing to their development going forward.”