Lexington’s Meera Bhonslé was crowned Miss South Carolina USA 2022 in North Charleston last week. She will now prepare to represent South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant.

Meera has held the title of Miss Upstate USA 2022 and Miss Gamecock 2018. She is a University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications graduate and worked as a multimedia journalist at ColaDaily in Columbia. She speaks five languages.

Her lifetime love of reading inspired her to begin her platform, “Reading is Leading,” and since 2014, she has been able to visit various schools across South Carolina to read with children and motivate them to become successful in their education.

Some of Meera’s hobbies include horseback riding, fishing, reading, playing the piano, and cooking. She also enjoys spending time with her two brothers and their family dog, Larri.

Meera’s multicultural background has given her the opportunity to become proficient in five languages. She takes pride in being a first-generation American daughter to a Salvadorian mother and an Indian father. In 2021, Meera had the opportunity to be the keynote speaker for a NASA Goddard event where she was able to discuss her heritage and cultural background, and her role in the pageant community as a representative of diversity.

Three traits that Meera aims to focus on as Miss South Carolina USA include: intentionality, positive communication and serving the great state of South Carolina.