MOTHERHOOD, AMBITION. IMPACT: MRS SOUTH AFRICA'S VISION BEYOND THE CROWN

VERUSHKA Singh, from Steyn City in Johannesburg, was crowned Mrs South Africa last Friday, making history as the first Indian South African to win the title.

- KAMOGELO MAKHURA

Speaking to Independent Media Lifestyle, the 39-year-old, who dedicated almost 14 years of her life to working in corporate, revealed that entering this competition was about more than just the glitz and glamour, but a lifelong dream.

“I never expected or planned on winning, I was at a stage in my life where I felt I needed something a bit more. I wanted a bit of confirmation.

“I wanted to level up. I was very safe in my career and my job. I was giving a lot to my team that I was leading there, to my son, and to my family. I almost didn't feel like, you know, that spark or joy in me at that time.

“I was kind of going through the motions of life. And I saw this, and as a little girl, I always loved pageantry. There's something about it. Very glamorous and exciting.

“I thought, ‘You know, why not?’ But I never thought, ‘okay, I could do it? I just thought, let me go and learn from these amazing women, see what I can learn and just like do something for myself and pick myself up a bit. That's actually what I entered for,” she said.

Singh's reply was unexpected. Typically, when you ask someone who has won something big, you would expect something along the lines of “happy, excited or over the moon.”

But for the beauty queen, she simply said she felt privileged to win the crown. A sentiment that speaks volumes about her character and how much this title means to her.

When asked how she hopes her win inspires other women in our country, she shared: “I hope that they can see what I've done and just basically give more hope to themselves and learn to love themselves.

“Because I think my story from where I came from and how I felt, people can maybe relate to. I was in a corporate environment that was very behind the scenes in the sense that it wasn't glamorous.