Vidisha Baliyan, a 21-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar city, was crowned Miss Deaf World 2019 in Mbombela, South Africa. Vidisha, a modelling student of Asian Academy of Film & Television, is the first Indian to bag the title where she contested among 11 finalists from 16 participating countries in the final round.
For those who don’t know about this pageant, Miss & Mister Deaf World (MMDW) is an international beauty pageant which crowns young Deaf women to “Miss Deaf World” and young Deaf men to “Mister Deaf World” every year. The event is held usually in Prague, in the Czech Republic.
Vidisha, a former international tennis player who represented India in the Deaflympics went through a severe back injury before participating in the beauty pageant.
Sharing her pictures on Instagram she wrote, “Winning the title is just the beginning of the dream. There are many people with hearing-impaired conditions who are extremely talented and deserve opportunities. As Robert Frost famously said, ‘Miles to go before I sleep’.”
Sharing a video of her “crowning moment,” Vidisha wrote, “My crowning moment…My tears here are telling more than any words could express. The joy, the pains, the hard work, the belief, the early mornings – all are worth it.
Being crowned as the first Indian to win in the Miss Deaf World Category. Feeling surreal. Thank you God.”
She had won Miss Deaf India title in February and was being trained since April by India’s first female Paralympic winner, Deepa Malik, and her team, to participate in the international contest. “I’m grateful to Deepa Mallik for mentoring me and for providing access to all resources,” she said.
We congratulate Vidiya and her entire family who made the country proud with her immense talent, confidence and beauty and wish for her bright and prosperous future.
Image reference- Pinterest, Instagram
