Meet Asmi Kaushal, a dedicated sophomore at Rutgers–New Brunswick and recent titleholder of Miss New Jersey International. Crowned in early March, the 19‑year‑old mechanical engineering major is using her new platform to champion a cause close to her heart: helping first-generation and immigrant students navigate the often-complex U.S. education system (rutgers.edu).
Born in India and relocating to the U.S. at age six, Asmi understands firsthand the challenges of adapting to a new school culture. As the first in her family to attend a U.S. university, she shares:
“A lot of students don’t realize that there’s so much more to do in education than just the academic portion.” (mae.rutgers.edu)
Determined to make a difference, Asmi offers free workshops—both online and at her high school—on topics such as AP course selection, extracurricular opportunities, summer programs, volunteering, and internships. She’s also laying the groundwork for a mentorship initiative that connects high schoolers with college students in their prospective majors (rutgers.edu).
Academically, Asmi is thriving: majoring in mechanical engineering (with a possible aerospace concentration) and minoring in mathematics. She’s actively involved on campus—supporting the Society of Women Engineers, contributing to the Engineering Governing Council, and designing components in Rutgers University Airborne’s aerostructures team (mae.rutgers.edu).
As a freelance model, she realized that pageantry could be more than appearances—it’s a way to be heard. “You can use your platform…and be noticed by others,” Asmi said, expressing how it enables her to influence positive change (mae.rutgers.edu). This July, she’ll step onto the international stage in Kingsport, Tennessee, armed with passion, purpose, and a mission to reshape educational landscapes for students like her (rutgers.edu).