Meet the 2022 Judges
Neha Patel
Neha Patel is a senior consultant at a global H&B consulting firm. She has over 25 years of experience. She is a wife and mother of two adult children and a recent COVID addition dog named Roxy. Neha enjoys yoga, golf, hiking, biking and travel. Most recently she travelled to Iceland where she was able enjoy the great outdoors and some really challenging hiking trails. She and her husband have travelled to 49 states and actively are looking for an opportunity to check off the last remaining state. She is a former Miss India from Toledo 1987, making a brief appearance on the Today show, and a second runner up to International Festival Queen Pageant.
Neha is involved in her community of West Bloomfield for many years. She has served on the Woodlands Board and currently serves on the Township Tax Review board and also ran for the Township Clerk position. In addition to raising two successful kids, she mentors high school and college students in many topics from college application preparation to career development and interviewing tips.
Latrice Delgado-Macon
Known as a poise, distinguished and one of the most socially viable fashion stylists in Michigan, Latrice Delgado-Macon is a wife, a mother, and a self - made entrepreneur in the fashion industry who is known for curating signature looks for some of the industries most-watched A-listers and influencers alike. She not only has successfully converted emerging talent into who's who tastemakers, but she’s also establishing a reputation for herself as a savvy, modern philanthropist and influencer within her community.
Latrice has a degree from the University of Phoenix in Business Administration and a Fashion Merchandising degree from Wayne University. Following her passion and love for fashion, beauty and her community Latrice joined a fashion podcast with 910 am radio station, she became a fashion editor for a magazine called Beautiful Machine Magazine and launched her own styling business called The Styling Closet. Which is a go-to destination for chic, contemporary fashion, and fabulous blogs, designed to help both men and women identify and have confidence within their personal style!
Latrice’s knowledge base and fashion influence makes her a highly sought after personality in the corporate world. She has collaborated with several major companies, including — Gucci, Fox 2 news, Talk of Detroit, Fashion Group International, State Farm Insurance, MGM Grand Casino, Fashion Party Weekend, Seagram’s Gin Model Search, Scarlet Communications, Bet.com, Banana Republic, Metro Museum Of Design Detroit (MMODD), Lord & Taylor, and Somerset Collections.
Outside of wearing all these amazing hats in the fashion industry- Latrice still finds the time to commit to being a loving and supportive wife to her husband Darnell Macon, and mother to her daughter Laila Macon who has also launched her own baking business and is a dancer at Legacy Dance Studio, and Russian Ballet. Latrice also dedicates time for philanthropic and mentorship work within her community. Latrice has worked in Detroit and the surrounding areas for 20 years. Latrice is a professor who teaches fashion styling 101 at Wayne County Community College, she is a mentor and motivational speaker. Some may say she is the modern day super woman!
Latrice freely volunteers her time and help other organizations such as #Detroit Lunch Bag, Detroit Regional Chambers, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Black Expo, Detroit Urban League, Detroit Athletic Club, The Detroit Garment Group, Black Dollar Detroit, Fashion on the Ave (Detroit), Southfield Chamber of Commerce and many more. To add to her charitable works, Latrice recently founded a 501c3 organization called the Detroit Fashion Community. The Detroit Fashion Community is a 501c3 organization that helps provide support, resources and community outreach to help creatives in Detroit thrive in their businesses and career.
Latrice is truly a cheerleader for the growth of the people and creatives within in the city, and have been working hard to be a positive influence and role model for her community; to inspire and motivate both men and women to have the confidence and courage to pursue there dreams no matter how scary it may be, Latrice saying is just try it or as Nike said #justdoit
Sandhya Sree Atmakuri
The echo of cymbals, the jingle of bells, the sound of music, are the rhythms of joy in this dancer’s world…
Ms. Sandhya Sree has inherited the interest in performing arts from her guide & mentor, her musician and artiste mother, Smt. Indira Devi. An award-winning performer, choreographer and teacher, Ms. Sandhya Sree Athmakuri, is an exponent of two leading dance traditions of South India, Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi, having trained, in all authenticity, under eminent Gurus in India.
Smt. Sandhya Sree is the founder and director of “Natya Dharmi” foundation for performing arts, and resides in Rochester Hills, MI, where she shares her skills with artistes in various fields as well as training aspirants in the field of Dance.
Through her school, the artistes have to their credit, a number of productions that have won acclaim from discerning critics. The school humbly acknowledges the various ‘outstanding achievement awards’ that were bestowed upon the director and students, by the various organizations in the U.S.
Sandhya collaborates with other styles (Bharata Natyam, Mohiniattam, Odissi and Kathak) and artistes through ‘MAITRII’ Detroit where she has co-curated, co-produced, co-choreographed and co-directed several productions.
*Sandhya Sree received her first gold medal at the age of 10 and went on to receive many more awards over a span of years.
*She is the recipient of the National scholarship from the Ministry of Human Resources, Govt. of India for Kuchipudi and a National Award winner for choreography in Bharata Natyam.
*Sandhya has performed extensively not only in India but internationally as well –Festival of India in Germany, World Theater Opera Fest., in the Netherlands, the United States of America and Canada, with both her gurus, and adorned important parts in their dance productions.
Most recently, she has led a 12-member dance ensemble to France, invited by the Carnatic Conservatory of Paris and the Indian Embassy in France.
*Besides her wide range of performances, she has also conducted Lec. Dems. and workshops, under the auspices of the ICCR(Indian council for cultural relations) and the Central Sangeeta Natak Academy Nrtiya Utsavs, that were held in various places in India. Likewise, she has shared her expertise with many educational institutions including Universities in the United States.
*A ‘Natya Visharada’(A Diploma awarded by Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai)
“Kuchipudi Nrithya Maukthikam” award from Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai
* ‘Singaramani’ award for Kuchipudi, by the prestigious organization Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai.
Academically, SandhyaSree holds a Baccalaureate degree in Law from Andhra University, AP, India.
Sandhya remains, an eternal disciple to the ‘Adi Guru’, Lord Nataraja
Tel K. Ganesan
Tel K. Ganesan is a self-made serial entrepreneur, engaging public speaker, philanthropist, mentor, film producer, and world traveler with a globally recognized reputation across multiple industries. He currently serves as Founder/CEO of multiple thriving enterprises, including Kyyba, Inc., Kyyba Films, Kyyba Wellness, Kyyba Fashions, and Kyyba Music
Ganesan is also a member of the Producers Guild of America, serving as Founder/CEO of Kyyba Films. Along with the distribution of feature-length movies such as The Marksman (2021), featuring Academy Award-nominated Actor Liam Neeson, he has produced multiple feature films, including the 2022 release 18 ½ - a top-rated 1970’s-era Watergate conspiracy thriller starring Willa Fitzgerald and John Magaro.
In 2022, Ganesan was appointed to the Ascension Providence Hospital Board of Trustees, connecting Kyyba Wellness with the Ascension Providence Foundation. His focus includes providing vital industry insight on innovative approaches to patient care and wellness, in addition to garnering essential community support.
Over a 30-year career, Ganesan’s groundbreaking work has earned him consistent national recognition, including:
● Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year finalist (2012, 2013, 2014)
● Inc.com’s list of “5,000 Fastest-Growing Private US Companies” (10 times)
● Inc.com’s “Build 100” list
● Filmmaker of the Year (Mahatma Gandhi Medallion of Excellence) and a place among the organization’s list of Top 20 Global Icons
● A place among D Business Magazine’s “Detroit 500” most powerful business leaders
Ganesan is still convinced that his biggest potential is yet to be realized, and he works hard daily to push the limits of what’s possible. Learn more at TelKGanesan.com
Jieyu Wang Alatchanian
Jieyu is an Asian-Pacific American Media & Fashion Influencer in Michigan.
She is passionate about education, fashion and culture. She started the only media group in Michigan that is dedicated to local Asian culture and life style, D Asian Media, which produces the Michigan Asian Live Channel, Paradise Eve.- Fashion event, and the Asian Taste - Food Fest, among several other community events.
Jieyu has also owned the Detroit Chinese Radio and TV Network since 2016, producing weekly local news and entertainment shows in Mandarin and Cantonese languages.
In addition to her own companies, she also serves as the regional director of the Miss International Fashion And Travel Pageant, the founder of the Miss & Mrs. Michigan Chinese Pageant, and the Director of Communications for Miss Oakland County.
Aria Hutchinson
Aria Hutchinson is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Neuroscience. During college, she devoted her time to volunteering with many organizations like Meals on Wheels, Dance Marathon, Michigan Medicine’s HOPE Ambassadors, and Pontiac Street Medicine. She was a fundraising coordinator for Dance Marathon and loved to raise money and awareness for pediatric rehabilitation. She also studied abroad in London, England where she researched pre-term brain injury and nerve net development at the Royal Veterinary College. She will be attending Wayne State University School of Medicine in July of 2023! Aria aspires to become an integrative medicine physician with a dual practice in yoga therapy.
Aria currently works as a yoga instructor and is undergoing her continuing education to become a 500-hour certified yoga teacher. Additionally, she works as a neurosurgical and bariatric medical scribe, and will begin researching multiple myeloma this summer with the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. Aria loves to read so she is also currently volunteering with Center for Success in Detroit, working on literacy skills with at-risk youth.
This year, Aria co-founded a nonprofit organization called Project InPower, where she brings yoga, meditation, and self defense to women who have been victims, and now survivors, of human trafficking, abuse, and beyond. Her goal is to give these women the tools to aid on their road to recovery and re-establish trust within their own bodies and minds. She hopes to continue developing and expanding her program throughout Michigan as well as nationally.
Lastly, Aria was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2022 in May and will be competing at the Miss USA pageant this October! She hopes to use her platform to inspire girls and women, and to continue gaining awareness for Project InPower. She is a green belt in taekwondo, loves to snowboard, and is obsessed with handstands!
Ruby Sooch, MD
Dr. Sooch grew up on the west side of the state in St. Joseph Michigan where she attended Lake Michigan Catholic High School. She is a graduate of Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI with a major in Health Sciences and a minor in Economics. Dr. Sooch earned her medical degree from Wayne State School of Medicine, Detroit MI. Through her rotations she fell in love with Emergency Medicine and completed her residency at Ascension St. John’s Hospital, Detroit.
Dr. Sooch has worked in the ER for the last 25 years. She is the Chair of Emergency Medicine at Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi Campus. She takes great satisfaction in practicing in her hospital..her home away from home..servicing her local community and beyond. She has been a partner with IEP, Independent Emergency Physicians, for the past 21 years and has never looked back! She enjoys her specialty, her work family and especially IEP shared core values of Commitment, Compassion, Integrity, Clinical Excellence, Professional Excellence & Service Excellence. She has enjoyed watching IEP expand over the last 25 years from an Emergency Medicine focus to six service lines spanning the continuum of acute care including Urgent Care & Hospitalist Medicine where 500K patients' lives are touched annually. She has enjoyed participating in the honor awarded IEP in their win as Modern Healthcare Top Places To Work 2019. Along with her Corporate & Chair responsibilities, she serves as Membe of the IEP Corporate Board, is a Clinical Associate Professor at Michigan State University, is a Member of Ascension Human Trafficking Task Force, is engaged in resident education, served as a physician team member of a medical mission to India with The Miracle Foundation and is active in community stewardship for the underserved, women and young adults.
Sooch has served as a judge for the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant and was a contestant in the Miss Blossomtime Pageant St. Joseph, first runner-up 1986. In her free time her life is balanced with yoga, pilates, time with friends and family, travel, reading and book clubs. Above all, she is a proud mom and enjoys her friendship with her two lovely adult children Mia, 20, and Sean, 23 and their golden retriever, Rey.
Raksha Dave
Raksha dave is a classically trained teacher in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Manipuri and a wide variety of Folk dances. She started Nartan Dance Academy in 1986, where a wide variety of dances are incorporated and taught. Here she nurtures her passion for creating fusion dances and dance dramas. Apart from her rich dance background she is a skilled writer and poet. She has written over 15 dance dramas and many timeless songs for her dance productions. She has judged countless dance competitions worldwide. Since her conception of Nartan Dance academy, Raksha has trained thousands in varieties of Indian dances. She helped create a traditional graduation program known as “Manglacharan” which is a students debut solo performance. “Manglacharan” incorporates Manipuri, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and traditional Indian folk dances. Raksha’s relentless focus and drive for perfection and commitment has nurtured many young adults to lead successful and fulfilling lives. Her drive has created a legacy and a cultural bridge between India and America. Her choreography has won countless titles across interstate, national, and worldwide competitions she continues to be the leading light for Indian culture in Detroit Michigan.
Radhika Shukla
Cynthia Khan is founder of Refuge for Nations — a sewing collective, she is a Pakistani emigre, a mentor to women of every nation, tongue and tribe, a community advocate and a voice for those who have been persecuted, distressed and displaced. Cynthia’s passion for the CAUSE gave birth to sustainable sewing spaces to enhance the art of home and industrial sewing, these culturally relevant spaces create friendships, networks and eventually income generating opportunities for Refugees and immigrants. Five years later, Refuge for Nations has evolved toward an entrepreneurial outlook: by addressing flexible work schedules, language, cultural and social barriers—-eventually empowerment through building a holistic community.
Radhika Shukla
Renowned Community Leader / Seasoned Technocrat/ National Beauty Pageant Winner/Mrs Michigan USA 2021/ MRS USA 2nd Runner Up/Ms Michigan North America 2020/Mrs Entrepreneur 2019/Mrs India League of America 2018/ MICHIGAN ROSS MBA
Social Profile and Community Involvement:
● Speaker: Global Women in STEM Leadership Summit
● Executive Board, Pioneer Medical Research/Palav saving pre-mature babies all across the globe
● Board: MAI Family Services based in Livonia, MI helping families suffering from domestic abuse
● Board of Directors, Michigan Indian American Community Service/MICS working on crisis relief efforts
● Member, Detroit Duchess Club working for women empowerment
● Member, Michigan Council of Women in Technology
Accomplished Enterprise Sales Director at Microsoft and Michigan-Ross MBA with over 19 Years of experience in Strategic Sales, Project/Solution Sales/Execution & Sales Planning/Forecasting. Extensive experience in mentoring and supervising high performing teams in North America and Asia to craft cost-effective solutions addressing critical business pain points/needs through cross-functional collaboration and effective people management. Radhika is a true trailblazer and in 2021, she was recognized at the No 1 spot in TOP 10 Women in Manufacturing by UK based Manufacturing Global Magazine. Her mantra is- “Inspire, Empower, Appreciate” and has been recently featured on several leadership podcasts.
PAGEANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Radhika Shukla is also Mrs Michigan USA/Mrs USA 2nd Runner Up; As Ms Michigan North America 2020, she bagged three Awards at the National Pageant, Ms North America- Ms Congeniality, People’s Choice Award and Top 5/ Fourth Runner Up . She is currently Mrs Michigan USA 2021 and is tirelessly working on advocating for several charities. A true hero exemplifying empathy in action and equity for all, Radhika’s compassion, courage, selfless tireless service to the community is unparalleled. She has been speaking at several rallies and corporate forums on STEM Careers, Women in Tech, D&I, BLM and ending Asian hate. She continues to be a role model to all women and youth breaking glass ceilings and challenging stereotypes.
AWARDS:
She recently received awards from Pioneer Medical Research/Palav - “Exemplary Community Service” and Michigan GSOD’s “Outstanding Community Service and Leadership award during Women’s history month.
She has received several awards at IBM and Microsoft namely “MSUS HERO Q2 FY19”, “Transformational Leader” and “Voice of the Customer”; “MSUS Hero: Empathy in action”; “MSUS Gold excellence for Customer obsession” and “MS Worldwide Community Award”.
Swathy Vimal
Swathy Vimal is the current Mrs. India Worldwide and the reigning Mrs. India USA. She was also awarded the Mrs. India Popularity $ Mrs. Social Media titles in the Worldwide pageant.
Swathy is a mother to 3 adorable children and an Elementary Education teacher by profession. She keeps her creative self-shining through acting, modeling and pageant training. She is an ambassador for a skin care brand and an online clothing boutique. She has also hit the runway for famous designers.
Swathy believes in giving back to the community. She is actively engaged in social welfare activities like feeding the local people and caring for the lonely. Her project, ‘Reach Out with Love’ raises funds every month to support girl children in rural India. As the Resource Mobilization Coordinator, she streamlines these funds to care for HIV infected children in India.
She believes that we are endowed with many blessings which we can use to help each other and can make this world a better place to live in.
Hema Rachmale
My name is Hema Rachmale, member & volunteer of Maharashtra Mandal of Detroit from 30+ years and A2MM for 10+ years. Currently I serve on the Board of MMD, BMM, DIA, DIWA, PALAV, MICS, INDIA HUB, NCAIA, Indian American Legislative Day Planning Committee, Lansing. For the last 30 years, I have been whole heartedly involved in Community Service and Voluntarism. I have had the privilege of being involved with the Maharashtra Mandal of Detroit as ongoing volunteer, committee member, Hospitality Lead, President, BOT and Co Convener. Similarly, I have been involved in BMM’s activities, especially Convention’s EC and BCC Committee. My family consists of my husband Avinash Rachmale who is an entrepreneur and Philanthropist and have three children (Daughter 32, Boys 26 and 23). We as a family have been attending the conventions from 1989 and an ongoing generous donor towards BMM conventions. We always look forward to attending the convention to connect with old friends and make new ones.
I am proud of my Marathi heritage and have a passion to take BMM to even greater heights. Like all of you, I have a forward-looking vision for BMM’s future and would like to serve actively as Board of Trustee to help and promote BMM activities for 2022 to 2028 next 6 years term. I believe that my 30+ years of experience would be a great benefit to provide mentorship, support ongoing activities and support our President, EC members and Convention Teams. Being a part of BMM, I have been and will be helping North America Maharashtrian community ex. students, visiting parents, senior citizens, first and second-generation Marathi speaking, understanding youths, Marathi Shala etc. My mission in life is to support seniors, adults, and kids in our community, through a great organization like BMM. In this COVID 19 pandemic of 2+ years I am involved with BMM’s Deepa-Stambha and many local and national organizations and helped towards provided and providing grocery and cooked food to stranded international students, helped sending human remains to India from North America, arranged funerals on Zoom and in person, immigration help in many areas, students, visitors, H1, H4 involved in serious car accidents created GOFUND fundraising for many, medical admissions for COVID, Cancer patients, 15+ high number vaccine drives, provided prescription or medicines from India or from local doctors and pharmacies. Recently I was very much involved in Ukraine student’s rescue mission (almost 2,500 students along with local organizations, Consulate officers and Indian airline authorities), emergency visas for India or support to students or transport of Oxygen concentrators and Ventilators during the peak of Delta, helped with an humanitarian approach, fundraisings, domestic abuse cases, helped to get the jobs, financial help, find the legal help, make an arrangement of medical services, hospice centers, nursing homes, assisted home or domestic help etc. People describe me as a Friendly, Social, Fun-Loving individual and I strive to bring a smile to people’s faces. My vision is to serve as a leader by encouraging innovative ideas, enhancing diversity, and promoting forward thinking so we can provide a safe and welcoming environment for our community.
Sholy Nair
Born in the State of Kerala (god’s own country), India and brought up in the state of Karnataka, India, my name is Sholy Karunakaran. In the community, I am known and addressed as Sholy Nair. I am the youngest of two daughters to my beautiful parents K. Karunakaran and Shyamala Karunakaran.
I did my schooling at Adarsha Vidyalaya, Bangalore, then moved on to complete my undergrad at St. Anne’s University College, Bangalore and went on to graduate from MLA College, Bangalore. I love dancing, cooking, sewing, traveling and practicing yoga. I have been actively participating in cultural programs from my childhood and continue through various association events. Currently I am an active member at Detroit Malayalee Association, Kerala Hindus of North America, and Detroit Indian Women Association. I love to volunteer for charity events when time permits, this gives me immense satisfaction and happiness.
My early childhood was a typical middle-class environment. My father worked as a government employee at the Civil City Court as a judgment writer and worked part time under various officers to support our family’s needs. Since his working hours were extended and busy working, family time spent was limited. In those days, our summer vacation was only spent with our grandparents and no other activities were planned for us to explore. I was always told to be focused on studies and discouraged when it came to extracurricular activities. As daughters, my sister and I were very sheltered by our parents. Those days were only about becoming a doctor, engineer, teacher or any other government employee. After my marriage, coming to the USA was a life changing experience for me. I learnt it's not just about becoming a doctor, engineer, teacher or government employee but that there are a lot of opportunities in various fields to
investigate to create your career.
My dream of achieving something started June 10th, 2001, that’s when I got married and started my married life with Sunil in Michigan. It was the most exciting moment in my life with a new partner. It was a fresh start, learning a new culture, new people, and traveling. I started to develop hope in my mind as the encouragement I received from my husband was a dream come true for me. He was the only one who told me not to give up without trying at least once.
Today, I am a happy and blessed woman to have my husband Sunil and my two children, Navya and Nived, in my life. They are my motivation to be who I am today. I am very proud to say, I am a woman entrepreneur. Currently:
1) I am a proud owner of Techno Rehab, Inc., a healthcare staffing company in business for more than 20 yrs.
2) I am an Agent to prevent hospitalization @ T.O.N.E Home Health Services, Inc.,
3) I am a Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Home Realty helping our community in need of commercial and residential properties.
I have experienced lots of challenges, with the power of determination and teamwork testing my skills and personality, but it sure was a great learning experience. Self discipline and self motivation is extremely important to become successful.
My goal, being a proud mother of 2 beautiful children, is to encourage them to achieve what they are interested in, teach them the importance of being respectful and humble, and to et success keep them growing and failure make them humble.
Sherlyn Fox, MS. WORLDWIDE 2022
Sherlyn is the current Ms. Worldwide 2022. Sherlyn’s passion and platform is to Combat Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence. Her focus is to raise funds and awareness for human trafficking while supporting all facets of her platform specifically for survivor aftercare locally, nationally and internationally.
She is a mother of 1 and Mimi to her 2 favorite little humans River and Rogan. She is an automotive program manager well as a Beauty Entrepreneur all while serving on two boards, Regional Director of the Fashion Group International - Detroit for the past 5 years as well as Programming Director for MP Global Foundation.
She loves live music and traveling anywhere around the globe and loves spending time with her family and friends.
Social Media:
IG: @Ms_Worldwide2022
Akshay Shah
Akshay Shah is the owner of several travel companies including Sky Bird Travel, Sky Vacations, and Jaya Travel. Diversifying during COVID, Akshay recently started two new companies - Allavance Holdings and L&L Contracting and Design. His family is the founder of the nonprofit Jaya Rehabilitation Center and Research Institute where they provide free prosthetics and rehab services to those in need throughout India. Jaya Rehab has also been doing globally recognized, cutting edge stem cell research which has led to a MOU partnership with Michigan State University.
Akshay is married to Shweta and has 3 daughters, Aanya, Chaiya, and Shreya. Chaiya won the titles of 1st runner up and Miss Photogenic in the Miss Category last year.
Akshay says he’s honored to be considered as a Judge for this prestigious event, especially as he is never allowed to judge anything in his own house!