Melanie Kannokada

Melanie Kannokada is a model and rising actress based in New York City.

In 2007, Melanie won the title of Miss India America and has since been making strides in the world of entertainment. Over the last two years she has modeled for top Indian designers Manish Maholtra and Ritu Kumar and continues to land national advertising campaigns throughout mainstream America. In addition to modeling, she is a performer on screen as well as on stage. She has served as the TV host of the national entertainment show "Pulse, the Desi Beat," made small appearances on Gossip Girl and The Daily Show, and recently finished shooting the lead role in her first feature film Bicycle Bride, a romantic comedy to be released in early 2010. She is also a dedicated student of improvisational comedy, and currently performs with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NYC. To complement these pursuits, Melanie trains as a dancer, a passion of hers since a very young age. She is an active member of the Sa Dance Company, which stands to artistically portray traditional and modern Indian dance. Melanie is also a core team member of Hospital for Hope, a new non-profit dedicated to fund the construction of hospitals in rural India.

Hailing from a Chicago suburb, Melanie has been fortunate to have had many diverse experiences in her life, from earning a 2nd degree black belt in Shotokan karate, receiving her Mechanical Engineering degree and serving as Student Body President at Stanford University, to working at world renown McKinsey & Company.