Ava during the emotional trip
An Ayr beauty queen has paid a moving visit to India where she spent a week supporting women who have survived acid attacks.
Ava Morgan, who took last year’s Miss Great Britain crown, was on the trip organised by the UK-based women’s not-for-profit organisation, A-Sisterhood.
The 20-year-old engaged directly with survivors at Sheroes Hangout cafés – safe spaces run as part of Chhanv Foundation’s Stop Acid Attacks campaign.
It helps to provide employment, confidence, and community reintegration for women affected by the brutal form of violence.
Ava visited the charity’s hubs in Delhi, Agra, and Lucknow, where she met with survivors, listened to their stories, and participated in workshops designed to build self-esteem and skills.
One of the highlights of the trip was taking part in a dawn photoshoot with the sheroes at one of the Seven Wonders of The World, the Taj Mahal.
Ava said: “These women are the definition of courage. Their strength, humour, and resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma left a lasting impression on me.
“I went to India hoping to offer support – but I came away inspired.”
The visit marked a milestone in A-Sisterhood’s ongoing commitment to global female empowerment.
Founded by Paula Abbandonato, A-Sisterhood has raised thousands of pounds for Stop Acid Attacks years, with Ava’s trip representing the charity’s most high- profile ambassadorial visit to date.
Ava was part of the mission to India
Paula, who accompanied Ava on the journey, said: “Ava brought warmth, empathy, and star power to the Sheroes cafés. She connected with the women not as a beauty queen, but as a sister.
“That’s the heart of A-Sisterhood—women supporting women across borders and barriers.”
In addition to her work with Stop Acid Attacks, Ava also visited Wildlife SOS in Mathura to learn about their efforts to rescue and rehabilitate India’s elephants and black bears—another cause supported by A-Sisterhood with A-Sisterhood’s donation going directly to upskilling the women of the Kalendar tribe which gave up their dancing bears to the charity.
Miss Great Britain has adopted A-Sisterhood as one of its official charitable partners, aligning the pageant’s platform with a mission to empower, protect, and uplift women globally.
A-Sisterhood supports female-focused initiatives both in the UK and abroad, tackling issues such as gender-based violence, education inequality, and poverty.
Ava and her family and friends have undertaken a dedicated fundraising programme to support the cause.
She added: “Being Miss Great Britain is about more than a crown. It’s about using your voice to uplift others. These women are sheroes, and I’m honoured to stand beside them.”
Ava became the 79th winner of the Miss Great Britain crown last year.
An international business student at Edinburgh University, she captured the national title after triumphing over 40 fellow finalists.
Her fundraising efforts have seen her raise tens of thousands of pounds through a campaign called beboobaware, which highlights awareness of breast cancer. Ava has also become a social media star and amassed more than 3.3 million likes on her Tik Tok channel avammorgan.