Lakeway teen Manisha Verma won Miss Jr. Teen United America (13 to 15-year-old age bracket) at the Nationals pageant held in Austin recently.

Verma's focus on helping blind orphans across the world led her to raise $5,000. She has planned a trip to India in July where she will spend 10 days visiting orphanages, which she plans on donating her funds to.

"She wanted to do the pageant to help her platform of helping blind orphanages all over the world," Manisha Verma's mother, Shama Verma, said.

Verma is studying at St. Edward's University.

Learn more about Verma at her website https://manishavermajrteenua.weebly.com/index.html.