On May 13, 2025, the world learned more about Dr. Shyna Sunsara, a remarkable woman from Vadodara, Gujarat. She is the twin sister of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a famous Indian Army officer. Dr. Shyna is known as Vadodara’s “Wonder Woman.” Her life is full of amazing achievements. She is an economist, environmentalist, fashion designer, former army cadet, rifle shooter, and beauty queen. This article tells the inspiring story of Dr. Shyna Sunsara in simple words. It shows how she became a role model for many people in India.
Early Life And Family
Dr. Shyna Sunsara was born in Vadodara, Gujarat. She has an identical twin sister, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Their family has a strong military background. Their father fought in the 1971 Bangladesh war. Their grandfather was also in the Indian Army. Their uncle served in the Border Security Force (BSF). Even their great-grandfather was a soldier in the British Army before joining India’s freedom movement. Shyna and Sofiya grew up hearing stories of bravery. Their grandmother told them about their great-grandmother, who fought alongside Rani Laxmi Bai in the 1857 revolt. These stories inspired both sisters to serve the nation.
As children, Shyna and Sofiya dreamed of joining the Indian Army. At that time, women could not join the army. Still, they wanted to serve the country. Shyna joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC). She trained as an army cadet. Sofiya found a way to join the army through her determination. Shyna did not become an army officer, but she never stopped chasing her dreams. She said in an interview that seeing her sister in uniform makes her feel like she is living her dream too.
Dr Shyna Sunsara Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Religion, Education, Husband
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dr. Shyna Sunsara |
| Hometown | Vadodara, Gujarat, India |
| Family | - Twin sister: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi (Indian Army officer) - Father: 1971 Bangladesh war veteran - Grandfather: Indian Army soldier - Uncle: Border Security Force (BSF) member - Great-grandfather: British Army soldier, later Indian freedom fighter - Great-grandmother: Fought with Rani Laxmi Bai in 1857 revolt |
| Date of Recognition | May 13, 2025 (recent news highlight) |
| Education | PhD in Economics, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara |
| Professions | - Economist - Environmentalist - Fashion Designer - Former Army Cadet - Rifle Shooter - Beauty Queen - Film Producer |
| Environmental Work | - Known as “Tree Queen” in Gujarat - Leading project to plant 100,000 trees in Gujarat |
| Rifle Shooting Achievements | - National-level rifle shooter - Gold medal awarded by President of India |
| Fashion & Pageant Achievements | - Fashion designer (military-inspired line) - Ms. Gujarat - Ms. India Earth 2017 - Ms. United Nations 2018 - Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2018 for fashion & environmental work |
| Film Industry Involvement | - Co-runs film production house in Mumbai - Produced "Ae Chand" (2023) and "Pagal" (2022) |
| Military Connection | - Trained as NCC army cadet - Twin sister Colonel Sofiya Qureshi: led multinational military exercise (2016), served in UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo (2006) |
| Notable Public Appearance | Keynote speaker at Inspire 1.0 Women’s Day event, Vadodara (2020) |
| Personal Life | - Single mother - Proud Indian Muslim; compares herself to Bella Hadid for cultural pride |
| Inspirational Quote | “Strength does not always come in a uniform. Sometimes, it comes in heels, gold medals, or green missions.” |
| Legacy | - Carries family legacy of courage and patriotism - Inspires young women to follow their dreams - Role model for balancing multiple roles and serving the nation |
Education and Career
Dr. Shyna Sunsara is a highly educated woman. She studied economics at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara. She earned a PhD, which shows her hard work and intelligence. As an economist, she understands money, markets, and how to help the country grow. But Shyna did not stop at academics. She wanted to do more for the world.
Shyna is also an environmentalist. She loves nature and works to protect it. Her biggest project is planting 100,000 trees in Gujarat. This is a huge effort to make the environment better. People call her the “Tree Queen” in Gujarat because of this work. Her tree-planting project has made her famous in India and abroad. She believes one plant can start a revolution. Her work shows how one person can make a big difference.
A Talented Rifle Shooter
Dr. Shyna Sunsara is not just a scholar. She is also a national-level rifle shooter. She won a gold medal in rifle shooting. The President of India gave her this award. This is a big honor. Shyna’s shooting skills come from her training as an army cadet. She is strong, focused, and fearless. Her gold medal proves her talent and hard work. Even though she did not join the army, her shooting skills show her courage and discipline.
A Star in Fashion and Pageants
Shyna is also a fashion designer and model. She loved designing clothes even as a child. In one interview, she shared a fun story. She once cut her mother’s saree to make a dress. Her mother was not happy, but this showed Shyna’s creativity. Today, she is a successful fashion designer. She even created a fashion line inspired by military uniforms. This was her way of honoring her sister, Colonel Sofiya.
Shyna is also a beauty queen. She won many pageant titles. She was crowned Ms. Gujarat. Then, she won Ms. India Earth in 2017. In 2018, she became Ms. United Nations. These titles show her beauty, confidence, and grace. But Shyna is more than a beauty queen. She uses her fame to talk about important issues like the environment. In 2018, she won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. This award was for her work in fashion and her tree-planting project. It is a big achievement because this award is usually given to people in the film industry.
A Proud Twin Sister
Dr. Shyna Sunsara and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi are very close. They share a special bond as twins. Sofiya is a trailblazer in the Indian Army. In 2016, she became the first woman officer to lead a multinational military exercise. She also served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Congo in 2006. Recently, Sofiya became famous for her role in Operation Sindoor. This was a military operation against terrorism in 2025. Shyna watched her sister give a press briefing on TV. She was very proud. She said it felt like seeing Rani Laxmi Bai come alive.
Shyna learned about Sofiya’s press briefing by chance. A relative called her and told her to turn on the TV. Shyna did not know Sofiya would be speaking to the nation. She cried tears of joy watching her sister. She said it was a proud moment for their family and all of India. Shyna admires Sofiya’s courage and dedication. She feels her own achievements are connected to her sister’s success.
A Role Model and Speaker
Dr. Shyna Sunsara is a role model for many people. She inspires young women to follow their dreams. In 2020, she was a keynote speaker at a Women’s Day event in Vadodara. The event was called Inspire 1.0. Shyna spoke about believing in yourself and chasing your passions. Other influencers, like editors and pageant winners, joined her. Her speech motivated many young women.
Shyna is also a single mother. She balances her busy life with love and care for her child. This makes her even more inspiring. She shows that women can do anything they set their minds to. Whether it is planting trees, designing clothes, or winning awards, Shyna does it all with grace.
Other Talents and Achievements
Shyna is also involved in the film industry. She co-runs a film production house in Mumbai. She has worked as a producer on projects like *Ae Chand* (2023) and *Pagal* (2022). This shows her creativity in a new field. Shyna is not afraid to try new things. She is always learning and growing.
As an Indian Muslim, Shyna is proud of her identity. She compares herself to supermodel Bella Hadid, who is proud of her Arab-Muslim roots. Shyna’s confidence in her culture makes her a unique figure in India. She shows that you can be modern, successful, and true to your roots.
A Legacy of Courage
Dr. Shyna Sunsara and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi come from a family of heroes. Their great-grandmother fought with Rani Laxmi Bai. Their father, grandfather, and uncle served the nation. Shyna and Sofiya carry this legacy forward. Sofiya serves in the army. Shyna serves through her work for the environment, fashion, and society. Together, they show that courage and patriotism can take many forms.
Shyna once said that strength does not always come in a uniform. Sometimes, it comes in heels, gold medals, or green missions. Her life proves this. She is a scholar, a shooter, a designer, a beauty queen, and an environmentalist. She is a mother, a sister, and a proud Indian. Her story is a reminder that anyone can achieve greatness with hard work and passion.
Conclusion
Dr. Shyna Sunsara is truly Vadodara’s Wonder Woman. Her life is a mix of brains, beauty, and bravery. She has won awards, planted trees, and inspired millions. Her bond with her twin sister, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, makes her story even more special. Together, they show the power of women in India. Shyna’s journey teaches us to dream big and never give up. She is a shining example of what it means to serve the nation in your own way. Her story will inspire people for years to come.
