Young woman victim of anti-Christian violence takes part in beauty pageant
University student says that at the age of 7 she had to hide in the jungle. “Being a Christian in the region is a great challenge. Thanks to my strong faith I have not forgotten God despite the threat to my life ".
Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) – A young Christian woman who was a victim of the anti-Christian violence in 2007-2008 in Kandhamal is one of the finalists of "Miss Teen Diva 2020", a national beauty contest.
Melissa Nayak, 19, is ready to compete with 25-30 other beautiful young women from across the country. “I was inspired to enter the contest in order to have the courage and confidence in myself. At this venue, I wish to work for the betterment of society,” Nayak said.
“I was 7 years old when I hid in the jungle and spent four days without food and drink,” she explained. “I experienced pain and threats to my life because I was a Christian.
“Being a Christian in the region is a great challenge. Thanks to my strong faith I have not forgotten God, despite the threat to my life.”
Nayak was born on 31 July 2001 and comes from Gomandi, a village in Kandhamal district. She is the eldest of five siblings and lost her father, Sachitananda, in 2019. Her widowed mother is the only source of income for the family. The family belongs to the Church of North India (CNI).
Nayak received her primary education in the village school. She completed her 10th grade at the Sisters of the Daughters of Charity, St. Catherine's High School for Girls, in Raikia in 2017. She went on to completed her pre-university prep at the Seventh Day Advent School, Khorda, near Bhubaneswar, the state capital.
Currently, the young woman is pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science at Khalikote College, a state educational facility in Berhampur, Odisha. “I heard about the contest from one of my friends. The organisation came to Berhampur for a preliminary audition,” Nayak explained.
During the selection, she talked about her hopes and aspirations in an interview. "I thank God to be one of the 25 finalists, selected out of 3,000 contestants who participated in Miss Teen Diva".
Her mother MamataJyoti praises her daughter and encourages her to fulfill her dream. “I appreciate her determination to enter the contest. She has the great opportunity to represent India internationally, in case she wins. I'm proud of my daughter.”
For her part, Nayak wants “the Odisha government, the district administration and many supporters to contribute financially to my success. I am well prepared physically, psychologically and morally ".
In her village, people say that she hopes to influence many young people to be role models in society to bring about some change.
“We thank God who blessed her abundantly to bring fame to the district and Odisha,” said Philip Pradhan, one of Nayak's neighbours and a catechist in the parish of Our Lady of Charity. “We are happy that a daughter from a backward district and an underdeveloped rural region can reach such a high level in her life.”
Miss Teen Diva is a new event created by Nikhil Anand, president of the Glamanand Group. It is organised by Glamanand Entertainment Pvt Ltd, a company known for hosting well-known beauty pageants and turning them into a great success.
"We aim to give participants the opportunity to represent India at various global beauty pageants," the organisation said.
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24/10/2019 17:56
27/12/2022 14:24
