Nishtha Dudeja becomes India's first ever 'Miss Deaf Asia'

Nishtha Dudeja becomes the first Indian to win 'Miss and Mister Deaf World - Europe - Asia Beauty Pageant' 2018 held at Prague.

Hailing from Panipat, 23-year-old Nishtha Dudeja became the first Indian to win the Miss Deaf World - Europe -Asia Beauty Pageant. The 18th edition of the beauty pageant was held recently at Prague, Czech Republic. It is being hailed as a step in the right direction to prove that disability cannot come in the way of success.

Born deaf, Nishtha is a commerce graduate from Venkateshwara College, Delhi University. She is presently pursuing a master's degree in economics from Mithibai College, University of Mumbai. She is also the winner of Miss Deaf India title, which was held in February in Jaipur. Soon after winning the crown, the Haryana girl said,

I want to thank my parents for their consistent support who were always there to help me. Now I want to help the deprived people even at the cost of my comfort. I believe that the differently abled people don't need pity. They only deserve equal opportunities to prove themselves.

Nishtha is also the brand ambassador for Sivantos India (formerly, Siemens Hearing Instruments), the world's leading brand of hearing aids that has about a 25 percent market share globally. She is also an international level judo player, said India Today.

She further added,

What a moment! It was overwhelming. It is certainly something I will cherish forever! It was really an amazing night. For the first time, India won any crown at Miss and Mister Deaf World pageant. I'm glad that I won this crown for India.

Also read: Chandigarh's Meenakshi Choudhary crowned first runner-up at Miss Grand International 2018

An avid sportswoman, she has participated in Deaflympics 2013 (held in Sofia, Bulgaria), World Deaf Tennis Championship 2015 (held in Nottingham, UK) and Deaflympics 2017 (held in Samsun, Turkey) as a tennis player, said News 18.

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