Thounaojam Strela Luwang

Thounaojam Strela Luwang (Meitei: /thou-nāu-jam strã-lā lū-wāng/) is an Indian television anchor, social activist, model and beauty pageant title holder who was crowned 2nd Runner Up at Femina Miss India 2023.[11][12] She represented her state Manipur at Femina Miss India 2023 after winning Femina Miss India Manipur 2023.[13] She won Miss Manipur pageant held in 2017.[14] She was also one of the top 5 finalists at the Miss Diva Northeast 2016-17.[15] She was featured in 2018 educational film, Who Said Boys Can't Wear Make Up directed by Priyakanta Laishram, which was the first-ever film on gender-neutral fashion and men's make-up from Northeast India.[16]

In this Meitei name, the family name is Thounaojam and the given name is Strela. "Luwang" is a name suffix.
Thounaojam Strela Luwang
(Meitei: /thou-nāu-jam strã-lā lū-wāng/)
Born
Strela

(2001-06-05) June 5, 2001[1]
Manipur
EducationGraduation in International Business
Alma materManipal University Jaipur & Little Rose Higher Secondary School, Imphal[2]
Occupation(s)model, film actress, television anchor[3]
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title
Years active2017-present
Hair colorBlack
Major
competition(s)		Miss Manipur 2017,[8] Miss Diva Northeast 2016-17[9] & Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 (as a part of Femina Miss India 2023)[10]

She held two sub-titles at the Femina Miss India 2023 – "Colorbar Miss Glamourous Look" and "Trends Miss Style Icon".[17] Other than her performances in beauty pageants, she works for the social activism in mental health issues with regard to gender equality as well as in "child-friendly" education system.[18][19]

Background

Born to Thounaojam Ratan Luwangcha and Ashalata Chingsubam, Thounaojam Strela Luwang (Meitei: ꯊꯧꯅꯥꯎꯖꯝ ꯁ꯭ꯇ꯭ꯔꯦꯂꯥ ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ) belongs to the Thounaojam (Meitei: ꯊꯧꯅꯥꯎꯖꯝ) family and the Luwang (Meitei: ꯂꯨꯋꯥꯡ) clan of Meitei ethnicity. She is the sixth child among her eight siblings.[20][21][22] She is native to Uripok Bachaspati Leikai of Uripok town in Imphal, Manipur.[23] Strela studied for International Business and worked for day and night to build up her future career with strong desire. She loves music, playing guitar, Kalimba, and Ukulele.[24]

Strela survived from the attacks of epilepsy and anxiety in her past. Diagnosed with depression at a tender age, she was compelled to leave school for 2-3 years. During that time, with no friends and feeling so lonely and underestimated, she felt she was having a long slumber. At the age of 10, she found her art of writing. She took social activism for creating social awareness of mental health issues.[25][26][27]

In Miss Manipur

In Miss Manipur 2017, Strela won the main title.[28] She was crowned Miss Manipur 2017 at the end of the event's grand finale at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre in Imphal at the night of December 16, 2017.[29][30] During the event, she expressed her desire to work for the safety of animals and old aged people.[31]

In Miss Diva Northeast

In the Northeast Indian branch of the Miss Diva of the year 2016-17, Strela was one of the top 5 finalists. Besides, she won the title of "Miss Rampwalk".[32]

In Femina Miss India

It took almost 2 years of attempts for Strela to keep herself in the top place in Femina Miss India Manipur representing her home state Manipur in all-India level beauty contest.[33][34]

Strela faced financial problems regarding her preparations for the pageant. She didn't have enough money to buy expensive dresses to wear during the pageant, unlike other participants do. So, she had collected some second-hand clothes to be used during the event.[35]

Thounaojam Strela Luwang says about what Femina Miss India means to her, as follows:

“Femina Miss India is like the beautiful Loktak Lake of Manipur for me. It's so beautiful yet so serene and mysterious. It gives life and purpose to so many young girls like us, making us feel as though the spring breeze in the middle of the lake had washed us down.”[36]

Regarding the Femina Miss India 2023 being venued in Manipur, shifting from its decade long regular venue Mumbai to another spot in Manipur, a remote state of Northeast India, for the first time in the history of the pageant, Strela quoted the following:

“The fact that the whole country is coming to my home, not only for the first time in its history but for the fact that I will also get to be a part of making that history, it just gives me immense happiness and excitement.”[37]

Strela felt that hosting the pageant in her home state gives an amazing opportunity and an inspiration to all the aspiring ladies of Manipur to get to know about the Indian top models and a chance to become passionate in becoming Miss India one day.[38]

Social activism

Being bullied by classmates, colleagues and even from teachers in her school life, Strela dedicated herself "to encourage child-friendly education without the discrimination of any gender identity".[39][40] Strela quoted the following regarding her cause of social activism:

“I have always been an active and avid messenger of Mental Health. Having felt what they feel, seen what they see, and feared what they fear, I must say my words would connect more to those suffering from mental health issues. Thus, I would want to work on advocating its causes that are prominent today and work on encouraging a child-friendly education, no more excessive pressure to the children and no more harsh punishments.”[41]

Filmography
Year Title Role Director Note
2018 Who Said Boys Can't Wear Make Up Herself Priyakanta Laishram Northeast India's first film on gender-neutral fashion and men's makeup.

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "Strela Luwang seeks love and public support : 06th mar23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    2. "Thounaojam Strela Luwang". beautypageants.in.
    3. "Thounaojam Strela Luwang". beautypageants.in.
    4. NEWS, NE NOW (2017-12-17). "Thounaojam Strela crowned Miss Manipur 2017". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    5. KanglaOnline. "Unearthing gems: Northeast Diva 2016-17 – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 2023-04-14.
    6. "Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang invites the whole of Manipur as she takes the stage to represent the state!". beautypageants.in.
    7. "Strela Luwang bags two subtitles : 24th mar23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    8. NEWS, NE NOW (2017-12-17). "Thounaojam Strela crowned Miss Manipur 2017". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    9. KanglaOnline. "Unearthing gems: Northeast Diva 2016-17 – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 2023-04-14.
    10. "Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang invites the whole of Manipur as she takes the stage to represent the state!". beautypageants.in.
    11. Devnath, Aparupa (15 April 2023). "Miss India 2023: Rajasthan's Nandini Gupta wins the crown; Shreya Poonja & Thounaojam Strela Luwang runners-up". INDIA TV. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
    12. Lifestyle Desk, TN (16 April 2023). "Strela Thounaojam Luwang: Meet Femina Miss India 2023's Second Runner-Up". Times Now. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
    13. "Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang invites the whole of Manipur as she takes the stage to represent the state!". beautypageants.in.
    14. NEWS, NE NOW (2017-12-17). "Thounaojam Strela crowned Miss Manipur 2017". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    15. KanglaOnline. "Unearthing gems: Northeast Diva 2016-17 – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 2023-04-14.
    16. "Priyakanta Laishram's Who Said Boys Can't Wear Makeup Is No Less Than A Revolution". E-Pao. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
    17. "Strela Luwang bags two subtitles : 24th mar23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    18. "Thounaojam Strela Luwang". beautypageants.in.
    19. "Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang's struggle with Epilepsy". beautypageants.in.
    20. "Strela Luwang seeks love and public support : 06th mar23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    21. "Miss India : Who is Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang?". beautypageants.in.
    22. "In search of an uninhibited sky". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    23. "Strela Luwang Thounaojam Representing Manipur for 59th Femina Miss India". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    24. "Miss India : Who is Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang?". beautypageants.in.
    25. "Miss India : Who is Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang?". beautypageants.in.
    26. "Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang's struggle with Epilepsy". beautypageants.in.
    27. "In search of an uninhibited sky". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    28. "In search of an uninhibited sky". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    29. NEWS, NE NOW (2017-12-17). "Thounaojam Strela crowned Miss Manipur 2017". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    30. KanglaOnline. "Thounaojam Strela is Miss Manipur 2017 – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    31. "Would like to work for old people, says Miss Manipur 2017". ANI News. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    32. KanglaOnline. "Unearthing gems: Northeast Diva 2016-17 – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 2023-04-14.
    33. "Miss India : Who is Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang?". beautypageants.in.
    34. "Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang's struggle with Epilepsy". beautypageants.in.
    35. "Strela Luwang seeks love and public support : 06th mar23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    36. "Miss India : Who is Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang?". beautypageants.in.
    37. "Miss India : Who is Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang?". beautypageants.in.
    38. "Miss Femina India 2023 accorded warm traditional welcome in Imphal". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
    39. "Miss India : Who is Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang?". beautypageants.in.
    40. "Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang's struggle with Epilepsy". beautypageants.in.
    41. "Miss India : Who is Femina Miss India Manipur 2023 Thounaojam Strela Luwang?". beautypageants.in.
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