Mina Kalyan isn’t just a life coach or a recently-crowned pageant winner — she’s a philanthropist dedicated to helping others throughout south and east King County, whether it be through charities that help infants experiencing homelessness or body positivity.

“I became a mom during the pandemic and my body was not like it used to be and I had a hard time losing weight,” Kalyan said. “People would ask me, ‘Why are you so fat?’ instead of ‘How is your baby?’ or ‘How is your life?’ It just hit me that I started feeling fat and not beautiful and not deserving of anything. Like many people, we think this feeling is normal and I want to break the chain. That’s when it hit me that beauty is all perception. That’s what pushed me to participate in the pageant.”

Kalyan entered the Miss International America pageant in Seattle earlier this year and won the title of Mrs. International America Curvy 2023. “I’ve seen pageant shows but I was always afraid of joining because of the limiting feelings and I didn’t even think of participating in one. I thought, ‘This is not something I can do because I’m at my heaviest right now’ and it’s not the right time for me,” Kalyan said. “But my husband really motivated me and as a life coach, I want to prove it to myself and use my own methods on myself and that’s how I did it.”

Since winning her title, Kalyan has utilized her crown and sash by promoting local charities and nonprofit organizations that she is passionate about.

“I believe in giving back because so many people have helped me,” said Kalyan, whose own experience of running short on diapers after being laid off from a job inspired her to help others in a similar situation. “I had this idea to help with homelessness and a shortage of diapers. I had a small idea of what it was like to be homeless and to have a baby.”

With the last of her savings, Kalyan started Mina’s Bake 2 Give, a bakery nonprofit that raises awareness and helps fund the nonprofit Babies of Homelessness.

“It’s such a great organization. They provide diapers and other things not covered by federal money,” she said. “I chose Babies of Homelessness because they are accessible and help in any way that they can, and I really connect with that.”

Along with her bakery, Kalyan finds other ways to help the organization, which caters to families in south King and Snohomish counties. “I have people bring diapers to my child’s parties to donate and I am planning to host a diaper drive. In the near future, I will be doing events where I wear the sash but my aim is to help them with our without the sash and crown.”

Since winning the title of Mrs. International America Curvy 2023, Kalyan has found that her crown and sash have inspired many people in her community. “It means a lot to me because it’s not just me,” Kalyan said. “When I walk in the neighborhood, people see someone like me win and people feel like, ‘we win.’ And it helps people to come out of their shell. I feel like the message is reaching.”

Originally from Tamil Nadu, India, Kalyan moved to the Pacific Northwest to get her masters in computer science and engineering at the University of Washington Bothell and found that she loved the region.

“When I came here I had not come to the U.S. before and I love everything here — even the weather,” Kalyan said. “I kind of like that there is a beauty in it. It feels like home to me.”

For more information on Babies of Homelessness, visit babiesofhomelessness.org.