Bhubaneswar, June 22: Poonam Maharana has been crowned Miss Universe Odisha 2026, securing her place in the Miss Universe India national finals after a state-level selection event held in Pune, Maharashtra.
Representing Odisha, Poonam impressed the jury with her confidence, communication skills, and clarity of vision, standing out among participants from across the country.
Hailing from Ganjam district, she is a B.Tech graduate in Computer Science Engineering with a specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Her profile reflects a blend of academic achievement and emerging leadership qualities among young Indian women.
Her advocacy work focuses on environmental protection, social service, and entrepreneurship, with an aim to create meaningful social impact and encourage youth engagement in community development.
Following her win, Poonam said the title represents responsibility as much as recognition. She expressed gratitude to her family and mentors for their constant support throughout her journey.
She now prepares to compete at the national level, with aspirations of advancing further on the Miss Universe platform while continuing her work in social development initiatives.
