, and her father worked as a clown at children’s parties to support the family. Life in the slum meant dealing with limited resources and basic challenges, but Maleesha always dreamed of doing something bigger. From a young age, she wanted to become a model, inspired by seeing Indian celebrities like Priyanka Chopra in fashion shows.

Her life began to change in 2020 when American actor Robert Hoffman, who was in Mumbai for a project, met her and was impressed by her appearance and presence. He helped create a social media profile for her and shared her story with the world. A crowdfunding page was also started to support her dreams and education. While the exact details of this interaction may be somewhat exaggerated in viral posts, it brought Maleesha into the public eye and gave her an opportunity to pursue modeling seriously.

After gaining attention online, Maleesha began building her modeling career. She received help from photographers and local contacts, and her talent quickly became visible to a wider audience. In 2023, she became the face of Forest Essentials’ “Yuvati” luxury skincare campaign, which was a major achievement for her. This work helped improve her family’s living conditions. With the income from modeling, Maleesha was able to move her family into a proper home with basic amenities such as electricity, running water, and safety, providing stability they had not had before.

Maleesha is also known for remaining grounded despite her early fame. She continues to focus on her education and uses her growing platform to inspire others from similar backgrounds. She encourages young people, especially girls in India, to embrace their natural beauty, challenging the country’s usual preference for fair skin. Maleesha often shares positive messages on social media, emphasizing inner beauty, hard work, and ambition.

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