Miss AAPSU contestants clear 1,700 kg of waste from Yagamso River

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Contestants of the Miss AAPSU 2025 pageant cleaned up a stretch of the Yagamso River inside IG Park on Monday, clearing approximately 1,700 kilograms of waste. The event, held to commemorate World Wildlife Day, was a joint effort organized by the Youth Mission for Clean River (YMCR) and the Miss All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) organizing team, with support from Itanagar Smart City.

Speaking to the media at the cleanup site, Khoda Yallam, AAPSU Women Cell general secretary and Miss AAPSU organizing chairperson, highlighted the value of hands-on learning for the 28 contestants representing diverse tribes from across Arunachal Pradesh. “We wanted these young women to step into the reality of environmental challenges,” she said. “By cleaning the Yagamso River themselves, they’re not just participants in a pageant—they’re gaining a deeper understanding of why our rivers matter and how they can inspire others to protect them.”

“We believe it’s vital for these young women, who are poised to become influential figures in our society, to understand first-hand the challenges of environmental degradation and the importance of river conservation,” she stated.

“This initiative is also a vibrant prelude to the upcoming AAPSU inter-tribe festival, showcasing our commitment to both cultural celebration and environmental responsibility,” she said. Yallam highlighted the powerful platform beauty queens possess, adding, “These young women are more than just pageant hopefuls; they’re potential influencers who can reach communities across the state. By tying environmental conservation to this platform, we’re showing that beauty and responsibility go hand in hand. It’s a small effort, but it proves what we can do together for our rivers.”

Kanku Kabak, AAPSU Art & Culture Secretary and YMCR Convenor expressed her gratitude to the Miss AAPSU team for their enthusiastic involvement and for prioritizing environmental consciousness in this year’s pageant.

“We are truly encouraged that the Miss AAPSU competition is integrating environmental conservation as a key judging parameter. This progressive step is truly commendable and sets a new benchmark for responsible pageantry,” she lauded.

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