At just 16 years old, Maleesha Kharwa, known as the ‘slum princess,’ harbours dreams of becoming a model to break free from the grips of extreme poverty in Mumbai.
Her inspiring journey unfolds in the BBC documentary Streets of Gold: Mumbai, where she shares her aspirations of moving her family from the slums to a better life in Bandra, alongside her father, brother, and sister.
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Maleesha’s extraordinary tale took an unexpected turn in 2020 when Hollywood actor Robert Hoffman stumbled upon her.
Recognising her potential, he created an Instagram account for her, amassing over 400,000 followers, and initiated a GoFundMe page that has garnered more than $20,000.
The funds are dedicated to the crucial needs of education, food, and shelter for Maleesha’s family.
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With newfound opportunities, Maleesha has become the face of a luxury cosmetics brand and graced the covers of prestigious fashion magazines, including Cosmopolitan India and The Peacock.
As she navigates this transformative journey, the aspiring supermodel remains hopeful that her endeavours will pave the way for a brighter future for her and her family.
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