(September 27, 2024) Dhruvi Patel, a student from the USA, was named Miss India Worldwide 2024. This was the 31st edition of Miss India Worldwide, the longest-running Indian pageant held outside of India. It is considered one of the top ethnic pageants, and is dedicated to providing a platform for young women to showcase their talent, culture, and values on an international stage.
“Winning Miss India Worldwide is such an incredible honour. It’s more than a crown – it represents my heritage, my values, and the opportunity to inspire others on a global scale,” Dhruvi said expressing her excitement after receiving the prestigious crown at the pageant held at Edison, New Jersey. Lisa Abdoelhak from Suriname was named the first runner-up, while Malvika Sharma from the Netherlands was declared the second runner-up at the competition.
Dhruvi is pursuing a degree in Computer Information Systems at Quinnipiac University. In 2023, the youngster earned the title of Miss India New England. She combines her love for pageantry with a passion for philanthropy, co-running the nonprofit 3DCharities along with her siblings.
Talent, culture and values
“To all my sister queens, sharing this pageant journey with you all has been a true blessing. Your friendship, support, and shared experiences have made this adventure unforgettable. Each one of you have brought a unique sparkle to this journey, and I am grateful for the memories we’ve created together. Here’s to the bond we’ve formed and the special moments we’ve shared as sister queens,” Dhruvi remarked highlighting the pageant’s journey that culminated into her winning the title.
With a passion for both pageantry and philanthropy, the Indian-American youngster aspires to become a Bollywood actor and serve as a UNICEF ambassador, following in the footsteps of some of the Indian actors she admires.
Giving back through 3DCharities
While managing her nonprofit, Dhruvi Patel dedicates her time to volunteering at senior centers, participating in food drives, and supporting various fundraising efforts. Her nonprofit regularly donates to organizations like UNICEF, Feeding America, and the American Red Cross. “Doing a good deed, whether large or small, will always come back to you in a positive way,” she believes.
3DCharities is a home-based nonprofit funded by Dhruvi and her siblings, Dhriti and Darsh. Eleven years ago, they founded it with the monetary gifts they received during birthdays, Diwali, Christmas, and other occasions as children. The charity’s name was created by combining the first letters of their names.
“God has blessed us with privileges, and as we strive to be transformational leaders, we want to use our blessings to do good and bring smiles to others. Charity starts at home but shouldn’t end there. We promise to elevate this mission to new heights,” is the driving force behind the siblings’ initiative.
Dhruvi with her siblings Darsh and Dhriti, the cofounders of 3DCharities
They launched 3DCharities with the goal of serving and touching as many lives as possible, donating essentials like food, water, clothing, and school supplies to temples, churches, medical research institutions, and other causes. Their efforts extend beyond the U.S., reaching India as well. Recently, they partnered with a local organization to feed over 300 children in Vadodara.
The charity also provides menstrual hygiene products and blankets to the homeless and underprivileged, and they regularly distribute food and clothing to orphanages. In 2023 3DCharities impacted the lives of 4,800 people. “We have donated $15,000 of our monetary gifts from many holidays and other occasions to charities in the past decade. We have also fundraised over $7000 for Jump rope for heart, American Red Cross, St. Jude’s, disaster relief charities during the pandemic and many other causes and charities,” the siblings shared.
A proud member of the diaspora
The young Indian American pageant winner hailing from Gujarat was invited to be a part of the India Independence Day parade held at NYC few weeks back. She was also present at the address of PM Modi in New York during his U.S visit this month. Calling it an incredible experience, she shared with a news channel, “As you can see, there is so much energy in this stadium. It is absolutely incredible. It’s so contagious. Everyone has so much passion for Bharat. It is absolutely insane. It just feels so surreal being surrounded by so many Indian people who are so passionate about their own country. Even though they’re living in America, they’re still so passionate. It truly is amazing.”
Dhruvi Patel’s enthusiasm and pride in her heritage comes from the strong connection she maintains with her Indian roots, despite living abroad.
