Chennai-born Indian American teenager Caitlin Sandra Neil, a 19-year-old student at the University of California, Davis, has been named Miss India USA 2024. The prestigious annual pageant, organized by the India Festival Committee (IFC), took place in New Jersey and witnessed participation from 47 contestants representing 25 states.
Caitlin, who has lived in the United States for 14 years, expressed her aspirations and commitment to community betterment in a media statement. “I want to leave a positive lasting impact on my community and focus on women’s empowerment and literacy,” she said. Alongside her studies, she aims to pursue a career in web design while also exploring opportunities in modeling and acting.
The event saw other winners crowned in various categories. Sanskriti Sharma from Illinois claimed the title of Mrs. India USA, while Arshita Kathpalia from Washington emerged victorious as Miss Teen India USA. Caitlin and Sanskriti were crowned by Rijul Maini and Sneha Nambiar, who held the titles of Miss India USA 2023 and Mrs. India USA 2023, respectively.
In the Miss India USA competition, Nirali Desia of Illinois was named first runner-up, followed by Manini Patel of New Jersey as the second runner-up. For the Mrs. India USA category, Sapna Mishra of Virginia and Chinmayee Ayachit from Connecticut secured the first and second runner-up positions, respectively. The Miss Teen India USA category saw Dhriti Patel of Rhode Island and Sonali Sharma achieve first and second runner-up spots.
The annual pageant, celebrating its legacy as a platform for Indian American talent, continues to inspire young individuals to embrace their roots while excelling in their ambitions.