Laika Kalyani Patel is a creative force, global thinker, and proud Austin native currently serving as President of Texas DECA, where she represents over 26,000 student leaders across the state. A junior at Lake Travis High School and ranked in the top 3% of her class, Laika channels her drive into everything from launching her crochet brand Kalyani Knots to designing her own clothing and working at a local French bakery. She’s studied French for over a decade, worked under the National Security Language Initiative for Mandarin, and partnered one-on-one with a small tailoring business in Bauchi, Nigeria—demonstrating a lifelong commitment to culture, service, and leadership.

After experiencing bullying and discrimination at a young age, Laika turned to creativity and entrepreneurship to find her voice. That journey inspired her signature program, Dear Future Leader—a classroom initiative that combines public speaking and leadership-building activities to help students uncover their own spark. Guided by her personal mission, “Set the spark, light the way,” Laika leads with empathy, purpose, and a passion for lifting others up.

Outside of her leadership work, she finds joy in exploring Austin’s local shops, running the trails at Lady Bird Lake, taking sauna resets, and hanging out with her three dogs: a Weimaraner, lab-pit mix, and cheweenie.

— from the Miss Texas USA website