On June 1, 2024, Sanjana Yendluri found herself in the Top 2 at Miss Maryland Teen USA for the third consecutive year. Surrounded by a village of cheering family and friends, the atmosphere was electric with excitement and anticipation. Although her ultimate goal was the crown, she cherished the incredible journey she had experienced so far. With this being her final opportunity to achieve her lifelong dream of representing Maryland at Miss Teen USA, she held on to the hope that this would finally be her moment. At last, Sanjana’s dedication, resilience, and hard work paid off, and she was crowned Miss Maryland Teen USA 2024. She triumphed over more than 40 other talented teens from across the state, all vying for the coveted title.

Sanjana’s roots trace back to Montgomery County, where she earned her Business Associate of Arts degree from Montgomery College before graduating from Northwest High School. She accomplished this all while being a Varsity Basketball and Field Hockey athlete and holding captain positions in both throughout High School. Beyond academics, Sanjana has dedicated herself to volunteerism, earning eight prestigious Gold Presidential Volunteer Awards and recognition in the London World Book of Records. She also launched “SJ on the Street,” a widely followed social media series aimed at inspiring volunteerism and spreading acts of kindness throughout her community.

Currently pursuing a degree in Economics at the University of Michigan, Sanjana aims to leverage her education and pursue a career in management consulting, with an ambitious goal of joining the fashion and luxury sector at Boston Consulting Group. Fashion has always been a significant part of Sanjana’s life, especially through her modeling endeavors. She has had the prestigious honor of walking in New York Fashion Week for APOTTS and has been featured in The Georgetowner Magazine. Sanjana hopes to combine her love for fashion with her business skills, aiming to excel and innovate in the fashion and luxury industry.

Driven by curiosity and a passion for cultural exploration, Sanjana has a penchant for travel that has taken her to diverse corners of the globe, having explored 26 states across the U.S. and numerous countries across three continents. Her goal is to continue her global adventures and visit all 50 states and each continent, embracing various cultures and broadening her horizons along the way.

Beyond her role as a titleholder, Sanjana is a passionate advocate for cultural appreciation and awareness. Standing tall at 5’10”, she has faced and overcome challenges rooted in societal norms as an Indian woman. Embracing her unique identity, she aims to empower others to proudly celebrate their differences. During family trips to India, Sanjana consistently finds time to give back to her roots by volunteering at schools for the blind and orphanages in low socioeconomic regions.

Through her extensive involvement in pageantry since 2013, culminating in her crowning as Miss Maryland Teen USA, Sanjana plans to leverage her platform to promote inclusivity and celebrate diversity, inspiring others through her journey and advocacy.

Her journey exemplifies resilience and the power of perseverance, and she remains deeply thankful to Maryland for the opportunity to represent and inspire teens across the state during her reign.