BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)— Over 200 people applied, 41 finalists were selected, but one Baton Rouge woman walked away with the Mrs. Telugu USA crown.
Dr. Thirumalini Dasari, who practices rheumatology and obesity medicine, is the face of the Telugu American community, one of the fastest-growing southeastern communities in the United States, with 1.2 to 1.5 million people.
“We Telugu people are contributing to the U.S. both intellectually, economically, socially, and culturally, making a mark on the global platform,” said Dasari.
In May, Dasari participated in the first Telugu pageant held in Dallas, Texas. She said over 500 people were in attendance to witness history.
Dasari, who also hosted Miss World in India, said she’s been competing since she was a child. Although each pageant is unique, she walks about with something different. The national winner said she spent eight months preparing for this moment.
“It was history… I’m your pilot queen from Baton Rouge, Louisiana,” said Dasari.
The Mrs. Telugu crown itself represents more than a victory; Dasari said it’s a testament to strength, culture, and timeless elegance. This crown of heritage was designed in South America, replicating other pageant crowns like Miss Universe.
“Pageantry has been a cornerstone of grace and entertainment… to show women’s confidence and capabilities, and that’s something that I’ve learned through the journey of my own pageantry. I think that’s a great thing to happen so that we as women can have a voice,” said Dasari.
Now that Dasari wears the prestigious crown, her work doesn’t end on stage. Now she plans to continue her work as a cultural ambassador with plans to partner with the American Heart Association, the Obesity Medicine Association and other groups to bring awareness to chronic diseases among other projects.
“I would like to put forward a project called ‘Cultural Sustainability,’ where I’m bringing the arts from India and showing it to the global platform, the craftsmanship,” said Dasari.
Opal Suchata Chuangsri from Thailand crowned Miss World 2025
Latest News
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
