“My parents encouraged me to take part in the Miss England Pageant and I have got a lot of support from my friends, family and communities for Miss England. In the semi-finals of the pageant, I qualified as a finalist and won the talent round. For my talent I did Bollywood dancing, the first half was semi classical, and the second half was commercial. I was proud to showcase my culture at the pageant. I am trained in these dance forms. Miss England celebrates multiculturalism and diversity,” she says.
She adds, “The finals of the pageant are later this month in Birmingham. “There are many different rounds such as Sports, making an outfit out of recycled materials, submitting a Bare Face photo, Talent and raising money for Beauty with a Purpose charity. It would be an honour to be the first social worker to win the Miss England title and create history at the pageant.”
Speaking to us from the UK, she says, “My father came from a village in India where resources were scarce. However, he overcame this through education. He is the founder of a charity that sets up schools in the villages of India where children are not able to access education. My mother dedicated her professional career to being a Social Worker for children with disabilities. My parents are my biggest inspiration, and I am following in their footsteps.”
Neha also has an undergraduate degree in Social Work and was in India earlier this year to work for her NGO, The Happy Kids Campaign, in Haryana. “I have worked as a qualified children social worker for over six years, before going on to completed my postgraduate degree in Law. My career aim is to be a child rights lawyer,” she says.
Commenting on her social work she says, “Under The Happy Kids Campaign I work with charities across India that support underprivileged and vulnerable children by putting on fun and educational workshops to safeguard, support and educate them. I have been doing my charity work in India for nine years now. I am extremely passionate about supporting vulnerable children, I continue to raise awareness about social work and children’s rights.”
Neha has taken on the onus of teaching the children of the NGO subjects like Maths, English and organises art, drama and sports events. “I hope to provide these children creative opportunities and teach them new skills. Through my campaign I donate books and stationery to the children. I also donate sanitary pads to girls as they do not have access to this. I believe that the way to support these children is through education so that they can come out of poverty and break the cycle of abuse. Children are our future, so we need to safeguard and educate them,” she says.
