Anti-sex Trafficking Activist
Fighting for Gender and Sexual Justice Around the World
At 15, Shriya Boppana (TPR 2021) got a taste of activism and knew that’s how she’d spend her life. Exploring her roots in India, she began to tackle issues facing women, including sex trafficking, sexual health and gender inequalities. Stemming from her own family, Shriya's passion for advocating for sexual and domestic relationships comes from a deep history of connection with the women of her lineage.
“Personally, service to my nation, my state and my people has always been in my blood. My great-grandparents were freedom fighters, fighting for India's independence from the British. They donated their property and wealth to the resistance and spent time in jail for the promise of a free country. As a first-generation immigrant, I hold the freedom of the American dream in my heart and feel indebted,” she says.
Her drive has always been strong, but funding was not. When she noticed a beauty pageant offering cash prizes, Shriya saw a solution, signed up and surprisingly won a title.
“I received so much press for it that I realized if I keep doing more of this, I'm going to keep raising more funds and more awareness for my sex trafficking work,” she says.
Doors opened. Shriya connected with the Malala Fund, the Obama Foundation and the Department of Justice. With a snowball of support, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Tepper School of Business to develop skills important for social impact work. She launched her anti-trafficking startup, Becoming a Voice, in 2021 to connect with sex and gender causes globally.
Her platform got even bigger when she took on hosting a TV show on social justice causes, “Becoming a Voice with Shriya Boppana,” on Fox 5 Plus in the Washington, D.C., area.
“I started off in sex trafficking but I realized that so many pieces and parts of this puzzle are connected and the problem is a lack of connection to resources. I’m trying to be a resource creation center to help others do this work so it can continue beyond my time. My activism is my version of giving back.”
Story by Elizabeth Speed