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

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”. 

“We didn’t need anything big. Just being together, honouring the journey, and recognising what this means for our family was more than enough.” 

Originally from Reservoir Hills in Durban, Singh schooled at Holy Family College and Pitlochry Primary School. 

Her mom, Vaneedha, was a primary school teacher, reflexologist, aromatherapist and yoga teacher, and her dad, Sagie, is an electrical engineer. 

She matriculated at Westville Girls’ High and relocated to Johannesburg 20 years ago to pursue her studies in chemical engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand. 

Singh worked at various multinationals, which involved management consulting within the energy and climate change space. 

“I launched my own firm, Climate Axis, in October where I will continue and further my work in this space. In my most recent position, a typical day involves leading a team, client meetings, reviewing technical work and business development.” 

She said as a climate change consultant, she had delivered energy and carbon management projects to corporate clients across multiple sectors. 

“My technical experience includes government incentives, carbon credits, climate change strategy development, sustainability reporting and energy measurement and verification. 

“Climate change is not simply an environmental issue. It’s a human issue and many of the most vulnerable communities on our continent experience the harshest consequences. Women bear a disproportionate burden: disasters force them to walk greater distances for water, drop out of school and carry additional responsibilities.

"As an engineer and sustainability professional, I feel a deep responsibility to use this Mrs SA platform to amplify how climate action, gender equality and community resilience are interconnected, and to inspire solutions that serve those who are most affected.” 

Singh entered Mrs SA in January with a goal to grow, learn and connect with incredible women.

"As a working woman and mother, I spent all my time pouring into others and decided to focus on my own personal growth. My journey through the Mrs South Africa pageant was one of the most transformative chapters of my life. 

“It was a journey of courage, self-discovery, and deep personal growth. As a chemical engineer, climate change consultant and busy boy mom, stepping into a world of high visibility pushed me far outside my comfort zone but it also expanded me in ways I never expected. 

“I learned that purpose is more powerful than perfection. The moment I focused on the message I wanted to leave behind, rather than how I looked or performed, everything aligned. I learned that women rise higher together. The sisterhood was extraordinary. Empowered women truly elevate one another.

“The challenges were also real — balancing motherhood, a demanding sustainability career, training, travel, and media commitments tested my resilience. There were moments of exhaustion and self-doubt, but every challenge strengthened my voice, my confidence, and my purpose.”

She is married to Sasha Singh, an attorney, and they have a nine-year-old son, Zachary. 

Singh enjoys long walks, listening to podcasts, and, when she has the time, a game of golf

Her message to women: “You are enough as you are. Your softness and your strength can coexist. Embrace every part of your identity. It is your power. Own your intellect. Take up space in classrooms, boardrooms, labs, and leadership spaces. Don’t shrink to make others comfortable.

“Lead with purpose. Build a career that aligns with your values, not just your job description. And remember, representation is not just about being seen. It’s about paving the way for others.

“You don’t need permission to rise. Step into your power, your voice, and your purpose. The world needs what only you can bring.” 

The next step on her pageantry journey is representing South Africa at the Mrs World contest in Sri Lanka next year. 

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