Anny Divya says she fought hard to achieve her dreams. 

An Indian woman has become the youngest female commander of a Boeing 777 aircraft in the world.

Anny Divya gained the title of commander at just 30 years old, overcoming her humble beginnings to achieve what had always been considered an outlandish ambition by her local community. 

Hailing from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, Divya was educated at the Kendriya Vidyalaya. Most of her classmates wanted to become engineers and doctors at the advice of their parents, but Divya always wanted to take a different path.

“Luckily my parents have been very supportive, even though a lot of people were telling them not to send me for flying lessons,” she said. 

While working with Air India, Divya has earned a degree in BSc Aviation and done a course in classical keyboard, plus used her salary to change her family’s fortunes – she has financed both her brother and sister’s studies abroad and bought a house for her parents.

She encouraged other women to go after what they want: “All women should pursue their dreams, especially right now,” she added. 

Read more Independent