In the wake of COVID-19, people from all over are heeding the call to offer assistance to those in need, by any means they’re capable of. For Miss England 2019, Dr. Bhasha Mukherjee, that means temporarily trading in her crown and returning from overseas charity work in order to provide care.
Prior to competing in last year’s Miss World pageant, Mukherjee was a junior doctor at Pilgrim Hospital who specialized in respiratory medicine. Since winning her title, Mukherjee quickly began humanitarian efforts and had been welcomed by various organizations to be an ambassador. She spoke with CNN, telling the outlet of her endeavors. As of the start of March, Mukherjee had been in India for four weeks, acting as ambassador for the Coventry Mercia Lions Club. The organization’s efforts aimed at providing funds a home for abandoned girls and donating stationery.
The 24-year-old was getting reports from friends and colleagues back who relied the extreme circumstances they were experiencing in the face of the outbreak. Though she was doing great work overseas, Mukherjee felt a pull to return home and offer aid however possible. After learning about the state of her hospital, Mukherjee reached out to the hospital’s management team and notified them that she wanted to return.
In her interview with CNN, Mukherjee said, “When you are doing all this humanitarian work abroad, you’re still expected to put the crown on, get ready… look pretty.” Mukherjee continued, saying, “I wanted to come back home. I wanted to come and go straight to work.”
Mukherjee is self-isolating for two weeks before jumping back into the workforce, ensuring that she hasn’t contracting the disease and will be in good shape to lend her support on staff.
In her interview with CNN, Mukherjee said, “There’s no better time for me to be Miss England and helping England at a time of need.”
According to the CDC, England has over 55,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently in intensive care after contracting the disease himself. Reports state he is improving now after his third night in the hospital.
Header image: Bhasha Mukherjee/Instagram
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