Avantika Vandanapu dedicates ‘South Asian Person of The Year’ award to Gaza

Avantika Vandanapu, Indian-American actor and ‘Mean Girls’ star, was honored as the South Asian Person of the Year by Harvard University. She dedicated her award to Gaza.

In her acceptance speech, she expressed humility, acknowledging the significance of the award. She dedicated it to the people of color, particularly those fighting on the front lines for justice and freedom in Gaza. She praised their efforts in combating injustice and violence, emphasizing their crucial role in keeping the world free from oppression.

“I would like to say that I am so humbled also to be here because I think that you know receiving a person of the year award is insane but also from my perspective the people of this year have truly been the people of color, and our brothers and sisters who are fighting at the front lines for our people in Gaza and I would like to dedicate this award to them because I think they are who are keeping our world free from injustice, oppression and so much violence and so I’m dedicating this to them and to our humanitarian leaders and to the people we lost this week from the World Central Kitchen…,” she said in her award acceptance speech which took place on April 10.

Also read: ‘Give Gaza Goodness’ donation campaign launched by Choithram International Foundation & MSF

She said: “Being honoured by such a prestigious institution as Harvard University is truly humbling and incredibly motivating. This award not only acknowledges my efforts but also underscores the significance of narratives transcending borders and the crucial role of Indian representation in global media.”

Recognized for her remarkable contributions to both international and Indian entertainment, the 19-year-old highlighted the importance of narratives crossing borders and the role of Indian representation in global media. She expressed gratitude for being honored by such a prestigious institution, emphasizing the motivation it provides.

Born into a Telugu family from Hyderabad, Vandanapu has appeared in various Hollywood projects including ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Spin’, and ‘Senior Years’. Additionally, she made her debut in the Indian OTT series ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’. Her achievements reflect her talent and impact in the entertainment industry, earning her recognition on a global scale.

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