People would shame me for my roots: Manya Singh

The beauty queen rode an autorickshaw to her alma mater after her win, her father in the driver's seat

Miss India 2020 runner-up Manya Singh’s father Omprakash led the 18-vehicle strong autorickshaw rally for the one kilometre-long stretch, from the end of Thakur village area to her college, the Thakur College of Science and Commerce, the humble three-wheeler getting pride of place in the celebration of her win.

“Today when I was driving the auto, there was this uncontrollable happiness. I was trying hard not to cry. I remembered how I would sometimes drop her to her college. Today, I was taking her with the crown on her head. I feel I’ve got my life’s worth of happiness,” her father Omprakash, an autorickshaw driver, said.

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Born in Mumbai to and raised in the small town of Hata in Uttar Pradesh, Manya was crowned VLCC Femina Miss India 2020 runner-up in a ceremony last week. The 19-year-old’s story of perseverance and single-minded focus in the face of difficulties has touched a chord with people.

When Manya grew frustrated with the limited opportunities in her village, she ran away from home to Mumbai at the age of 14. Worried for their daughter, the Singh family packed bags and left for Mumbai immediately.

Manya found the grounding for her dreams in the suburban Kandivali as she funded her education by managing two jobs at a pizza joint and at a call centre.

“There was a time when people told me I wasn’t good-looking, or tried to shame me for my roots. I toiled hard to make every bit count, to dream big even when the circumstances didn’t allow me,” said Manya.

“This is where I began my journey and here I am again. I feel incredibly nostalgic and extremely emotional that I’m sharing this platform with my family,” Manya added.