19 December 2014
Hyderabad

In a glittering function organized on December 14 at the Royal Albert’s Palace, Fords, New Jersey, Pranathy Gangaraju of Georgia was crowned Miss India USA 2014. Miss India USA is the oldest running Indian pageant outside of India. Pranathy is the first 19 year old to win the title and she is the first Telugu girl in the last 20 years to do so. The thirty third annual pageant was organized by the New York-based IFC, headed by Dharmatma Saran, Founder and the Chief Organizer of the Pageant.

Pranathy's parents Maitreyi Gangaraju hails from Hanmakonda, Telangana and Ram Gangaraju hails from Vijayawada, AP. Pranathy was born in Hanmakonda, then raised in Vijayawada before she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, USA, while she was 2 years old. Pranathy has been coached in Kathank for 6 years and Hindustani classical for five years.

Pranathy, 19, is also a student majoring in Film Acting and Production in Less Strsberg School of Acting and theater, which produced stalwarts like Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn, Marlin Manroe, Scarlett Johannson, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino etc.. Her hobbies include dancing, singing, writing and swimming. She was crowned by outgoing queen Monica Gill. Pranathy will represent USA in the Twenty Fourth Annual Miss India Worldwide Pageant, also organized by IFC, to be held in Goa, India in June of 2016.

The pageant started with a stunning performance by all the contestants led by the outgoing queen Monica Gill choreographed by Shilpa Jhurani. All contestants presented their best in the Indian and the Evening Gown segment after which the top ten were selected. The top ten contestants from Miss section then amazed the audience with their talent which included Bollywood dances, Indian

classical dances, singing and karate.

Pranathy Gangaraju also won Miss Beautiful Smile title.