Celebrating the first Indian Mrs South Africa: a tribute to unseen women

'HONOURING THE JOURNEY'

- CANDICE SOOBRAMONEY

FORMER Reservoir Hills resident, Verushka Singh, a 39-year-old chemical engineer, made headlines on Saturday by becoming the first Indian woman to be crowned Mrs South Africa.

“It's slowly sinking in,” said Singh, from Steyn City, Johannesburg, following her win at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace.

“There are moments where I take a deep breath and think, ‘wow, this is real’. What’s changed the most is the sense of responsibility. Mrs South Africa isn’t just a title, it’s a platform. In just a few days, the conversations have shifted and I am planning more empowerment work. My voice suddenly carries wider, and I’m deeply aware of the privilege and responsibility that comes with that. But at home, I’m still just mom, and that grounding is everything.”

She said winning on the eve of South Africa commemorating the 165th anniversary of the arrival of Indians to Natal was “an honour that sits deep in my heart”.

“It felt profoundly symbolic. I thought about the generations before us - the strength, resilience, sacrifice and perseverance that define our community.

“To stand here as the first Indian Mrs South Africa is not just a personal achievement, it’s a tribute to every Indian woman who has ever felt unseen, unheard or underestimated.

“This win is a reminder that our stories matter, our voices matter, and our representation matters.

“It’s a moment I hold with gratitude, and with the hope that it opens doors for many more women from diverse backgrounds.”

Singh said she and her family celebrated “simply and beautifully with gratitude, love and a lot of emotion”.