Shree Saini (born January 6, 1996) is an American model and beauty pageant titleholder of Indian descent. She represented the United States at Miss World 2021, placing 1st runner-up and winning the Beauty with a Purpose National Ambassadorship.^[4] Saini is the first Asian woman to represent the United States at Miss World.^[5]

Early life and education

Shree Saini was born on January 6, 1996, in Punjab, India, and has lived in the United States since age 5.^[6][7] She first dreamed of competing for the Miss World title at the age of 5.^[8] For the first 12 years of her life, while growing up in Moses Lake, Washington,^[9] Saini's heartbeat had an average of just 20 beats per minute.^[10] Doctors told her she could never dance again but she persisted, and continued training in ballet.^[11][12]

Later in life, Saini was involved in a major car crash in Moses Lake that resulted in her suffering from significant facial burns.^[13][14] Saini was advised that her recovery would take a year, but she returned to her classes after just two weeks.^[13]

Saini attended the University of Washington.^[15] She is a trained ballerina, and has been accepted to train at the Joffrey Ballet.^[16]

Pageantry

Saini, who was listed as both a resident of Seattle and Ellensburg, Washington, in 2020,^[13][17][9] was the 2020 Miss Washington World and America's Beauty with a Purpose National Ambassador,^[18] which is a preliminary competition to Miss World America. In October 2019, Saini collapsed at the Miss World America preliminary.^[6]

In 2020, Saini was awarded the World Peace Messenger award from Passion Vista Magazine.^[19] On October 2, 2021, Shree Saini was appointed Miss World America 2021,^[18] and crowned by Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997. She is the first Indian-American and Asian-American woman to hold the Miss World America title.^[20][5] Shree Saini represented the United States of America at Miss World 2021 in Puerto Rico.^[21] In February 2022, the Washington state legislature passed a resolution recognizing Saini's philanthropic achievements and wishing her success at Miss World.^[22]

Miss World 2021

Saini finished as the first runner up in the Miss World 2021 competition, where Karolina Bielawska of Poland was crowned as the winner.^[4] She was also chosen as the 2021 Beauty with a Purpose Ambassador to travel with Bielawska during her reign.^[23]

Philanthropy

Saini has volunteered with hundreds of nonprofits including the USO, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Make A Wish, UNICEF, Victoria's Voice Foundation, American Heart Association, Children's Right And YOU, Doctors Without Borders, Special Olympics, homeless shelters, and several Anti Human Trafficking nonprofits and she has raised more than $200,000 for dozens of 10 nonprofits, including $50,000 for Variety Children's Charity.^[22][24]