Meet Tejaswini Manogna: From India’s Best NCC Cadet to Miss Earth India and Pediatrician

Dr. Tejaswini Manogna stands as a compelling example of disciplined excellence across multiple domains. A qualified pediatrician, nationally acclaimed classical dancer, yoga practitioner, and former beauty pageant titleholder, she has consistently demonstrated that rigorous academic and professional pursuits can coexist with artistic expression and national representation. Her journey from a standout National Cadet Corps (NCC) achiever at age 16 to Miss Earth India 2019 and a practicing doctor offers a powerful narrative of focus, resilience, and purposeful living.

Early Life and Formative Discipline

Born on 19 May 1994 in Hyderabad, Telangana, Tejaswini Manogna grew up in a supportive middle-class family in the Nallakunta area. Her father, Madan Mohan Sharma, worked as a banker, while her mother, Anitha, had previously been employed as a software engineer. Her parents instilled strong values of discipline, hard work, and cultural rootedness, encouraging her to balance modern education with traditional arts. She completed her schooling at Rosary Convent High School in Hyderabad.

Her early promise became evident through the National Cadet Corps. At just 16, she was selected as India’s Best NCC Cadet and Best Shooter among approximately 1.3 million cadets from the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings. This national distinction earned her the Young Achiever Award at a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meeting in Sri Lanka. These formative experiences in the NCC honed her leadership, discipline, and sense of service—qualities that would later define her multifaceted career.

Medical Education and Pediatric Practice

Parallel to her extracurricular achievements, Tejaswini pursued medicine with determination. She graduated with an MBBS from Osmania Medical College (NTR University of Health Sciences) in 2017. She subsequently completed her postgraduate training, earning an MD in Pediatrics.

Today, she practices as a pediatrician with a focus on child health, preventive pediatrics, and lifestyle medicine. Colleagues and patients alike note her compassionate approach to making children feel comfortable during treatment. Her medical career remains central to her identity; she continues to engage in clinical work while extending her influence through health awareness initiatives, vaccination advocacy, and wellness programs.

Artistic Pursuits: Bharatanatyam and Yoga

Beyond medicine and pageantry, Tejaswini is a dedicated artist. She trained extensively in Bharatanatyam and holds national accreditation as a graded professional dancer from Doordarshan and the Ministry of Culture. She has performed in numerous concerts and workshops, including engagements in the United Kingdom (Yorkshire, Feltham, and Sheffield). One of her most memorable performances was a Bharatanatyam recital before former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

She also holds a Diploma in Yoga Training and serves as a qualified yoga instructor and practitioner. She regularly conducts sessions and speaks on integrating yoga into daily life for physical health, mental clarity, and healthy ageing. Her ability to perform classical dance at international pageants while maintaining a medical career underscores her exceptional time management and commitment to holistic development.

Journey into Pageantry and National Representation

Tejaswini’s entry into the world of beauty pageants began with Miss Diva 2017, where she reached the Top 6 and won subtitles for Miss Talented and Dazzler Eterna Best Makeover. She later participated in Femina Miss Telangana 2019, finishing among the top three state finalists.

Her defining moment arrived with Miss Divine Beauty 2019 (also styled as Divine Miss Earth India). At the grand finale held at Kingdom of Dreams on 31 August 2019, she won the Beauty for a Cause subtitle in recognition of her environmental projects and was crowned Miss Earth India 2019.

She represented India at the 19th Miss Earth pageant in Parañaque City, Philippines. Although unplaced in the overall competition, she earned significant recognition:

• Miss Global Choice
• Eco Trivia award
• Winner of the Talent Round (Water Group) for her Bharatanatyam performance paying tribute to Mother Earth
• Third place in the Best in Long Gown competition within her group

The coronation took place on 26 October 2019 at Okada Manila. Throughout her reign, she championed environmental causes, leading hygiene and sanitation drives, mass tree plantation programs, and climate awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities.

Philosophy, Impact, and Continuing Service

Tejaswini has often spoken about the importance of consistency, deep preparation, and aligning personal passions with larger societal goals. In interviews around her Miss Earth India journey, she emphasized that medicine remained her profession while pageantry served as a platform to amplify environmental and humanitarian messages. She has described her daily routine as beginning early with yoga and meditation, followed by focused study and practice—reflecting the same discipline she developed in the NCC.

Her work continues to inspire young Indians, particularly aspirants balancing academics, arts, and public service. As a motivational speaker and leadership advocate, she frequently addresses youth on wellness, environmental responsibility, and pursuing excellence across multiple fields. She maintains an active public presence through social media and speaking engagements, including recent contributions to International Day of Yoga programs.

A Legacy of Balanced Excellence

Dr. Tejaswini Manogna’s story is one of harmonious integration rather than compartmentalization. From her early recognition as India’s Best NCC Cadet to her crowning as Miss Earth India and her ongoing work as a pediatrician, she exemplifies how rigorous training in one area can strengthen performance in others. Her journey demonstrates that national service, artistic expression, medical expertise, and environmental advocacy are not competing priorities but complementary expressions of a purposeful life.

In an era when young professionals often feel pressured to choose singular paths, Tejaswini Manogna offers a compelling alternative: disciplined excellence across domains, rooted in service and cultural pride. Her continued work in pediatrics, yoga advocacy, and public inspiration ensures that her influence extends far beyond the pageant stage—touching the lives of children she treats, audiences she addresses, and the environment she has long sought to protect.