At only thirteen years old, Ava Walia has already accomplished what many spend a lifetime striving toward. Born and raised in Nassau County, New York, Ava, who celebrated her thirteenth birthday this July, is the newly crowned National All American Miss Preteen for the National American Miss (NAM) Organization. She holds a historic distinction: the very first generation Indian American from Nassau County to ever earn this national title. Her journey to the crown is impressive, but her story extends far beyond the stage. Ava’s accomplishments reflect leadership, compassion, advocacy, and maturity well beyond her years.
Ava’s 2025 NAM journey began long before the national spotlight. Earlier that year, she was recognized as Miss Nassau County by National American Miss, a moment that inspired her to set an even higher goal, becoming the National All American Miss Preteen. Her passion for pageantry began not on a big stage, but in 2022 at a small, local community pageant exclusively for Indian girls. That first pageant, deeply rooted in her culture, became a memory she treasures. It was the beginning of a path she never imagined would lead to national recognition.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving week of 2025 in Orlando, Florida, her 2nd year competing at NAM Nationals. Ava returned home not just with the national crown, but with a remarkable list of achievements in optional competitions. Out of more than one hundred contestants, she was awarded Brand Ambassador, recognizing her as a role model who reflects the values of NAM through leadership, confidence, and her strong social media presence. Ava loves using her platform to empower young girls, share her appearances, and demonstrate what it means to be a “NAM Girl.”
One of her proudest accomplishments from the national pageant was earning a Top 5 placement in the prestigious Face of Ashley Rene’s modeling campaign. This optional competition, featuring over 300 contestants ages 4 to 13, selects only a handful of girls who embody style, confidence, and the essence of Ashley Rene’s brand. Ava was the only first generation Indian American contestant to make the Top 5 this year.
Her success didn’t stop there. Ava won National Casual Wear, a style and modeling optional that highlights personality through fashion. She was also awarded Heart of Service for completing more than 6,000 volunteer hours in just three years, along with Golden Achievement in Service for her outstanding dedication to her platform. Among her many placements, Ava ranked Top 5 in Runway, Actress, Spokesmodel, Photogenic, Top Model, and Dream Model. She also earned 1st Runner Up for Miss Congeniality, a title voted on by fellow contestants and one that Ava holds especially close to her heart. But behind every sash, crown, and sparkling moment, there is a mission that guides her, and that mission began with love, heartbreak, and a promise.
A major reason Ava competes in pageants is to amplify her voice. Her platform, Save A Kidney, began as a personal story and transformed into a statewide movement. For Ava, advocacy did not start after she lost her grandfather, it began even before. She knew the power of the sash and chose to use it as a microphone for something deeply meaningful. Ava comes from a proud Indian family and lives in a joint household of ten, a strong cultural tradition symbolizing unity and togetherness. It used to be eleven before she lost her grandfather, Harjeet, in 2022. He was her best friend, her hero, and the person who inspired her life’s purpose.
In 2020, half of Ava’s family uprooted their lives and temporarily moved from New York to Indiana so her grandfather could receive a lifesaving liver transplant. Although the transplant was successful, his kidneys failed the following year. He now needed a second transplant, this time for a different organ. But New York has one of the lowest numbers of registered organ donors in the country, and help didn’t come in time. Ava’s grandfather never received the kidney transplant he needed. That heartbreak became Ava’s calling. She transformed her grief into action and created Save A Kidney, originally focusing on kidney disease awareness. But through years of advocacy and meeting other young activists, Ava realized that while kidneys were vital, all organs are important, and all deserve awareness. She expanded her mission to champion organ donation as a whole, speaking for families like hers who didn’t get their miracle.
In 2024, Ava became the first Junior Ambassador for Donate Life New York State. That same year, she served at the organization’s largest annual fundraising event, An Evening for Good, where she helped raise over $100,000 alongside committee members. Her ability to inspire donors and rally communities is one of her strongest gifts. But Ava wasn’t done. She wanted to create something lasting, something that would educate children, spark empathy, and keep her grandfather’s story alive for generations. That dream came to life when she became a published child author. Her book, Ava and Grandpa Harjeet’s Journey, recounts her grandfather’s battle with kidney disease and her perspective as a granddaughter who refuses to let other families experience preventable loss. All profits from the book benefit Donate Life New York State. Throughout the year, Ava hosts “Meet the Author” events at libraries, schools, Girl Scout troops, Boys & Girls Clubs, and more, sharing her message with the next generation.
Ava’s advocacy quickly earned recognition beyond her local community. Political leaders throughout Nassau County, Long Island, and New York State took notice of her passion and activism. In 2024, she partnered with Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, becoming the first child, and the first first generation Indian American child, to draft and propose legislation related to organ donation. Their bill, the New York Saves Lives Act, aimed to add the Donate Life registry option to all State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) admission applications. Although the bill did not pass, Ava’s role in drafting and advocating for it made history. Her efforts continued into 2025, where Ava proudly supported the passage of the HEART Act, legislation that allows multi listing for New Yorkers waiting for organ transplants. Advocacy at this level is rare for adults, yet Ava, at just thirteen, has already contributed to meaningful change in state policy.
Her hard work has earned her more than ten major governmental recognitions, including county citations, town and state citations, senator proclamations, assembly citations, the Office of the Executive citation, and the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award. These acknowledgments have fueled her dream of one day becoming the first female President of the United States, a goal she embraces with confidence and excitement.
Yet despite her extraordinary accomplishments, at her core, Ava is still a normal preteen with a big heart and even bigger dreams. She is a straight A student who takes school very seriously, something her family values immensely. Education always comes first in the Walia household, and Ava knows she must maintain academic excellence to continue competing in pageants. Her favorite subject is social studies, especially American history.
Outside school and advocacy, Ava loves Bollywood dance and Girl Scouts, two activities she has been involved in since age five. Bollywood dance allows her to stay connected to her Indian heritage, and she has performed at hundreds of community events, including one for the current Prime Minister of India. Girl Scouts sparked her passion for service, and in 2025, she recently partnered with the Girl Scouts of Nassau County to help create a brand-new Organ Donation Awareness Badge for all six scouting levels. This badge will educate Girl Scouts across the county and inspire them to help save lives, something Ava is incredibly proud of!
Ava Walia is a shining example of resilience, leadership, and the American dream. At just thirteen, she has transformed personal tragedy into passionate advocacy, used her crown to impact thousands, and carved a path of service that will inspire generations to come. Her journey is only beginning, yet her legacy is already taking shape.
Several distinguished political and community leaders, IAF Board of Trustees, Members, Volunteers, supporters and audience graced the occasion applauding the distinguished accomplishments of women honorees. Several Board of Trustees and community leader in presence included Dr Bhupendra Patel, Mukund Mehta (Indo-American Senior Citizens of NY), Jasbir (Jay) Singh, Anil and Sunil Jain (Vass Pipe), Dr. Nitin Doshi (Doshi Diagnostics), Beena Kothari (President-AIA),Dr N Kukar, Dr Jagdish Gupta, Flora Parekh (President – Gift of Life USA), Dr. Bhavani Srinivasan (AAPIQLI), Ravi Bhooplapur (Xaviers Medical College), Shashi Malik (SEVA center for Humanity), Vimal Goyal & Deepak Bansal (IDPUSA), Rotary Club, Lions Club, Sandy Bhatia (Flushing Bank), Rizwan Quereshi (HAB Bank), Dr. Mamta Shaha, Kalpana Patel (UCI), Sudhir & Swati Vaishnav, Vijay Goswamy, Anju & Sanju Sharma (Registration), Dr. Prachi Dua, Beena Kothari and team produced Souvenir Journal, several past honorees and many other organization leaders. Our sincere gratitude to outstanding media professionals for their generous coverage and support. Aashmeeta Yogiraj emceed the event and concluded with a Thank you note from Shammi Singh and Roopam Maini.. Entire IAF team with several volunteers were instrumental in making the event a grand success. It was indeed a very successful evening, showcasing and honoring outstanding women achievers, who are successful in business, cultural, professional, education, and medical. Community and social services.
