Miss India 2020 runner-up Manya Singh is winning hearts as her story of struggle went viral on social media. A daughter of an autorickshaw driver, Manya narrated her story of win and struggles that have left netizens awe-inspired.
Crowned as VLCC Femina Miss India 2020 runner-up in a ceremony last week, Singh hails from a humble abode that dreams big. The beauty queen rode an autorickshaw to her alma mater with her father in the driver’s seat along with her mother holding her hand sitting at the back.
Miss India 2020 runner-up’s father Omprakash led the 18-vehicle strong autorickshaw rally for the one kilometre-long stretch, from the end of Thakur village area to her college, the Thakur College of Science and Commerce.
“Today when I was driving the auto, there was this uncontrollable happiness. I was trying hard not to cry. I remembered how I would sometimes drop her to her college. Today, I was taking her with the crown on her head. I feel I’ve got my life’s worth of happiness,” her father Omprakash said.
Born in Mumbai and raised in the small town of Hata in Uttar Pradesh, the 19-year-old’s story of determination and single-minded focus in the face of challenges has touched a chord.
Omprakash, 45, tried hard to fight his tears when he reached the venue with his family, while Manorama, 38, recalled their struggle to educate her daughter and younger son.
An academically bright student, Manya found the grounding for her dreams in the suburban Kandivali as she funded her education by managing two jobs at a pizza joint and at a call centre.
At this year’s pageant, Manasa Varanasi, an engineer from Telangana, emerged as the winner, VLCC Femina Miss India World 2020, while Haryana’s Manika Sheokand was crowned VLCC Femina Miss Grand India 2020.
Miss India contest is highly criticized for its choice of contestants