Wheelchair-bound beauty queen Somya Thakur to represent India on global platform, seeks support

Panchkula (Haryana) [India], October 18: Where there is a will, there is a way, this is a famous saying that has been proved by Somya Thakur who is all set to represent India at the Miss Wheelchair World 2022 at the global stage.

She currently holds the title of Miss Wheelchair World India. However, due to some financial constraints, she has asked the govt for some help and relief. According to her, lakhs of rupees are needed to enter such a contest. Many NGOs and institutions like Arjoi and professional designer of NIFT and Sunita Bhatia Foundation came to her rescue. Somya revealed that when she was 11-months-old, she suffered from locomotor disability and scoliosis. As a result, the muscles of her legs are weak and they cannot bear the weight of the body. This ailment consigned her to the wheelchair.

Despite all the odds, Somya completed her education without giving up in life and gave dimension to her career without becoming a burden on her parents.She is an MBA from Panjab University.

Currently, she is working as an HR professional with a private company based in Mohali and is balancing her beauty passion as well. Somya also shared that she was badly injured in a car accident two years ago while on her way to the job. Her father Rajinder Singh is a retired officer from Excise Department and her mother Sarita is a homemaker.

She added, the competition is going to be held in Rosarito, Mexico in October. Around 30 other countries including India, Brazil, Canada, France, Malaysia, Netherlands, Spain, Russia and Ukraine are participating in it. Somya had applied for Miss Wheelchair World 2022 contest. It is organized by the Jadina Taca Foundation, certified by the Government of Mexico.

After several rounds of interviews, she got a chance to participate in this contest.

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Mark Zuckerberg takes Meta a step further with launch of advanced headsets

Mark Zuckerberg has revealed a new line of advanced headsets, taking his company Meta into the next stage of metaverse-based development.

Swati Bhat

During a Meta Connect event, Zuckerberg and guests discussed virtual reality’s (VR) future through presentations and later revealed the new device, Meta Quest Pro, which aims to bring together the physical and digital worlds.

The headset is available to pre-order now and will begin shipping on October 25, with a price of just under 1,500 dollars.

In a release, Meta, formerly Facebook, said the device was its first in a new line of advanced headsets built to expand on the possibilities of virtual and mixed reality.

It comes in an intentionally reduced size, with a curved battery pack, full-colour visuals, high-resolution outward-facing cameras and inward-facing sensors to capture facial expressions and eye tracking.

The sensors will be applied to a person’s avatar, which will also simultaneously adopt facial expressions, in a bid to improve social presence.

Alongside an array of other new features, Meta also previewed its next generation of Meta Avatars, including that of full-body avatars in VR.

Many of its improvements ensure a more inclusive experience for users, with additional body types and skin shades to also be added for representation purposes.

Meta’s Avatar Store will also be launching in VR later this year, allowing users to shop virtual clothing, which the company has developed through partnerships across sports, entertainment and fashion.

The company has already revealed collaborative collections with the likes of Prada, Balenciaga and Thom Browne.

Meta said it hopes to develop this marketplace for interoperable digital goods, allowing an item to be worn on any app.

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Pure London to introduce new fashion sections

Trade show Pure London will launch five new fashion destinations at its autumn/winter 2023 event in February next year, including premium womenswear, Purely Sustainable, Pure Edge, Pure Body, and Gen Z.

Swati Bhat

Pure London, taking place from February 12-14, 2023, at Olympia London, will add these new destinations to its existing ready-to-wear, Pure Jewel, accessories, and shoes sections.

Gloria Sandrucci, event director at Pure London, said in a statement: “Held in the heart of London in the wonderfully iconic Olympia, there will be no end to the creativity you’ll see on the show floor at the autumn winter 23/4 edition of Pure London next February.

“I am over the moon to introduce so many new destinations and offer a curated and inspirational space for global fashion collections. Join us to discover the buzz of Pure London.”

Purely Sustainable will place sustainability at the forefront of the trade show to raise the profile of ethical and sustainable fashion across the entire event and will include a curated selection of conscious exhibitors.

While Pure Edge will provide a new home for alternation lifestyle collections that are “independent, unapologetic, and diverse,” and Pure Body will be a dedicated space for athleisure collections, lingerie, swimwear, hosiery, and nightwear.

Gen-Z will add a new home for “young, edgy and fun looks” that encapsulates the energy and mood of young fashion with trend-led, ready-to-order, and street-style collections.

There will also be a new premium womenswear destination, designed with elegance and longevity in mind, featuring high-end labels such as POM Amsterdam, Vilagallo, La Fee, and Humility.

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