Vidisha Baliyan, a 21-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar city, was crowned Miss Deaf World 2019.
The international beauty pageant was held in Mbombela, South Africa and Vidisha, being the first Indian to bag the title, was honoured on July 22. Vidisha, who is a modelling student of Asian Academy of Film & Television, was chosen among the 11 finalists from 16 participating countries in the final round.
While she emerged as the winner, a South African contestant was crowned as the runner-up. Battling through hearing-impaired conditions, the ecstatic Vidisha shared several pictures of herself crowned as Miss Deaf World 2019 on Instagram.
In one picture, she wrote, “Winning the title is just the beginning of the dream. There are many people with hearing-impaired conditions who are extremely talented and deserve opportunities. As Robert Frost famously said, ‘Miles to go before I sleep’.”
Although Vidisha hails from Muzaffarnagar, her family lives in Ghaziabad. The 21-year-old trained for the pageant in Gurgaon and Noida and is a former international tennis player who represented Indian in the Deaflympics. After suffering a severe back injury, Vidisha participated in the beauty pageant.
Vidisha Baliyan being crowned Miss deaf world 2019
Sharing a video of her “crowning moment,” Vidisha was reduced to tears as soon as her name was announced. “My crowning moment…My tears here are telling more than any words could express. The joy, the pains, the hard work, the belief, the early mornings – all are worth it.
Being crowned as the first Indian to win in the Miss Deaf World Category. Feeling surreal. Thank you God. #crown #missdeafworld2019 #vidishabaliyan #hearingimpaired #empowerment”
During the talent round of the pageant, the UP girl performed Tandav and looked beautiful. She even shared pictures of herself performing the graceful routine. “Performing tandav, which is a vigorous dance form by Hindu God Lord Shiva. Since my young age I’ve loved dancing though I couldn’t hear the rhythm, melody or sounds clearly. To dance, one needs fire in their heart and soul, and music in their spirit,” she wrote.
Miss Deaf World 2019 was organised in 2001. Helmed by the Miss & Mister Deaf World, the non-profit organisation whose official language is the International Sign Language. The first Miss Deaf World 2001 was Viktoriia Prytychenko who hailed from Ukraine. The competition was held in Mallorca, Spain.(The Times Now News)