Anusha Bisaal
Khedu Lalloo, was my mentor.”
Bisaal excelled in academics and sports at school. She matriculated at Protea Secondary School in Chatsworth and studied beauty therapy.
She said she furthered her training in laser therapy, electrolysis and vein therapy. Bisaal became the first Indian permanent make-up artist.
“I got engaged to Roshan Bisaal when I was 20 years old. We got married a year later (1990). We had our first daughter in 1992, Adhira, and two years later, Rohini came along.
“I decided to start Anrosh Beauty Clinic in Durban – at the same time I was appointed examiner, assessor and moderator for City and Guilds. After living with my in-laws for eight years, we decided to move out – but Roshan was faced with retrenchment and started his own courier company.
“We moved into our new house with no set income, barely any furniture – but we made it a home,” said Bisaal.
Ten years after starting her clinic, Bisaal had to close it – she had faced two attempted hijackings. She said she accepted a position as district sales manager at Avon Justine. She pursued studies in business administration – which she completed with distinction.
“This year I launched Miss Uniworld South Africa.”
The SHE (serve, help, empower) Force Foundation, also started by Bisaal, is under the banner of the Mrs India SA and the Miss Uniworld SA pageants. “We have transformed, uplifted, brought out the best in women,” she said.
Bisaal said pageantry had taught her many things – but the most important lesson she has learnt is that sometimes “the prettiest face hides the saddest story”.
Bisaal said she planned to expand on purposeful events nationally and internationally. This, she said, was part of her plan of leaving a legacy of woman empowerment through pageantry.