Guneet Oberoi, who moved to Arizona eight months ago to study at the Sonoran University of Health Sciences in Tempe, surprised herself when she achieved her ambition of winning Miss World America Arizona in July.
Next she’ll compete in the Miss World America pageant on Nov. 17.
A platform like this comes with great responsibility, which Oberoi doesn’t take lightly. The 25-year-old is working to make a difference in the lives of Arizonans facing food insecurity, particularly children.
In addition to doing hands-on work to help feed families across the state, Oberoi recently planned her own fundraising event for the cause.
“I think food is not just sustenance, it’s a right,” Oberoi said. “And as a naturopathic medical student, I understand the importance of food, not just a packaged, processed meal, but nutritious, high-quality food, because it does a lot for children’s development.”
‘I wanted to be a part of the movement’
Oberoi won on her second try competing in the Miss World America Arizona pageant. What drew her to pageantry? Oberoi said a lot of it had to do with empowering others.
As an Indian American, seeing other beauty queens made a big impact on her as well.
“I’ve always been interested in that ever since I was a kid seeing such influential figures on screen,” Oberoi said. “Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen and Priyanka Chopra, these were all Miss Worlds and seeing them empower others in the way they do, I just knew I wanted to be a part of the movement, get involved in my community as well and use my platform and my voice for a good cause.”
Oberoi said she feels grateful and blessed to have found an Indian community here that gives her a sense of home. She is proud to be an Indian beauty queen and work alongside women of all cultures and races.
“I think there’s so much to learn from everyone and it’s honestly really beautiful,” Oberoi said.
Helping feed families
Oberoi’s pageant coach, Yesenia Vidales, who was Miss Arizona USA in 2020, says Oberoi is very multicultural and loves how she can relate to people with a lot of different backgrounds.
As a Mexican American, Vidales said, it’s refreshing to meet somebody who also is a first-generation American or an immigrant because they have a similar background of not being 100% ingrained in American culture.
“She can relate to pretty much everyone in the country in that sense,” Vidales said. “So even if we’re not from the same exact culture, we both understand the differences of not just being American but having another culture.”
Oberoi has been using her platform as Miss World America Arizona to help local families experiencing food insecurity.
She said food insecurity can have multiple causes, such as low income or not having a car to go to a grocery store.
Oberoi volunteers at food kitchens and community food banks, and she has been working with Farm Express Mobile Markets, which connects with farmers.
The organization gathers produce that is organic and locally grown and delivers it by bus to community locations such as libraries that are easy for people to get to even without a car. EBT is accepted, so the produce is more affordable.
‘She genuinely cares about her community’
Oberoi hosted a Feed the Future gala on Friday, Oct. 25, to support Swift Youth Foundation, a charity based in Scottsdale that focuses on empowering children through leadership and mentorship programs, and Action Against Hunger, a humanitarian aid organization that helps communities in crisis from Ukraine to Gaza.
Christian Carvajal, owner of Dolce Events in Scottsdale, heard about Oberoi through his director of events. Oberoi had approached them looking for a spot to host the gala. He said he was honored to work with her on the project. Her commitment was inspiring and his team enjoyed working with someone so passionate about helping others.
Carvajal said he experienced food-related difficulties as a child.
“I grew up super, super with no money, and we went through times where we had a scramble to make ends meet, to just have anything to eat at the table,” Carvajal said. “So my heart fell for this, and her passion and desire to make this event spectacular was very inspiring for all of us who worked with her.”
The gala was free to attend. It included a red carpet, performers, a DJ, dancing, an open bar and appetizers. There were live auctions, raffles, gift certificates and luxury prizes with a percentage of the money raised going to those charities. According to Oberoi, $10,000 was raised through the gala and other fundraising efforts.
“I have seen firsthand through organizing this, it’s my first event – and I really hope it becomes an annual thing – but what I learned is that Arizona is a place of community,” Oberoi said. “We’ve had so many amazing sponsors that agreed to donate such wonderful experiences or venues or services, and it wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Fighting food insecurity in Arizona was also a platform that Vidales had when she held the state title. She praised the gala Oberoi planned.
“I think that just goes to show how genuine she is, and she genuinely cares about her community, about her state and wanting to really make her community a better place for everyone,” Vidales said.
Carvajal also admired Oberoi’s work on the gala.
“We need more young people that care about the world more,” Carvajal said. “It was very inspiring to just see somebody so young care so much and give so much.”
Where to watch Oberoi compete for Miss World America
Vidales and Carvajal will be cheering Oberoi on as she competes for Miss World America on Sunday, Nov. 17. The pageant will air on the Queen Beauty Network at 5 p.m. MST.
Win or lose, Oberoi is proud of herself.
“I’m very surprised, and I’m very proud of myself, and I think that’s what I’m going to take with me to the pageant and keep that feeling of feeling like a winner,” Oberoi said.
“And the fact that I’m able to use my platform to make an impact in my community, and through that feeling, I hope to just power through and bring home the crown to Arizona.”
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Miss World America Arizona is fighting food insecurity
