Juanita Mukhia Jun 2026

The hills of in West Bengal, India. The state of Sikkim , India. Various regions across Nepal .

Juanita Mukhia hails from a family deeply rooted in the arts. She is the daughter of the legendary lyricist and musician Man Bahadur Mukhia. Growing up in an environment where music was not just entertainment but a way of life, Juanita was exposed to the nuances of melody and poetry from a tender age. This lineage gave her a distinct advantage: a formal understanding of music combined with an intuitive sense of lyrical expression.

Juanita Mukhia’s club career reads like a tour of the Indian women’s football map. She has played for virtually every major club in the Indian Women’s League (IWL). juanita mukhia

: Expanding her global footprint, Mukhia has since transitioned into international spaces, pursuing a Master's degree at Murdoch University in Western Australia.

In a stunning victory, she beat out over 75 contestants from around the world to be crowned . This historic win made her the first Black woman to ever hold the title. True to her mantra of "pageantry with purpose," she has dedicated her reign to leveraging the crown for advocacy, particularly in support of Dress for Success , a global charity that empowers women to achieve economic independence. She has also shared her journey and insights on major platforms like PBS’s "The A List With Alison Lebovitz". The hills of in West Bengal, India

in her pocket, highlighting the extreme financial vulnerability many migrant workers face upon arrival. TISS Mumbai Key Themes in Her Narrative Labor Displacement:

Juanita (43) - Looking in Victoria Park, Mount Lawley, Su… Juanita Mukhia hails from a family deeply rooted in the arts

: Weaves narratives around structural power dynamics, questioning if women entering male-dominated spaces translates to true systemic change.

Mukhia hails from the mountainous, culturally rich state of . Growing up in the Himalayan region deeply influenced her awareness of identity and community structures.

After completing high school, she decided to follow in her elder sister's footsteps and move to Mumbai to seek employment. Arrival in Mumbai: She arrived in the city with only four rupees

Growing up in Sikkim, India , Mukhia developed a deep connection to nature and community. This perspective heavily influenced her academic and creative choices. During her time in India, she became deeply involved in documentary filmmaking, using her platform to shed light on marginalized voices and complex social realities.