Recognising women’s worth

Anusha Bisaal decided to pursue a career in beauty therapy, which led to her true calling: pageantry

BLESSED with beauty, brains and a heart of gold, businesswoman Anusha Bisaal has given newfound respect to married, divorced and widowed women. Bisaal has shown that women are not just the queens of the kitchen, but can handle far more with the same grace and charm.

Bisaal, 48, a mother of two, who lives in Seaview , Durban, said she had had an interest in beauty and fashion from a young age.

She decided to pursue a career in beauty therapy and this eventually led to her true calling – pageantry.

She said a controversial story published in the Tribune Herald 15 years ago – highlighting why Indian men have affairs, which led to an increase in HIV/AIDS among Indians – set her on a course to create a platform to show the worth and beauty of women.

“The men interviewed in the story blamed their wives for their infidelity,” said Bisaal. “This annoyed me because I feel married, divorced and widowed women deserve the same respect and admiration as any other women. I decided it was time to start a pageant to showcase the worth and beauty of married, divorced and widowed Indian women.

“I started Mrs India South Africa as well as Mrs India Worldwide.”

Bisaal’s drive to do the right thing is rooted in the loss of her sister, Shakthi. She said Shakthi was 3 years old when she died of cancer. Bisaal said she took on the responsibility of caring for her two younger brothers, Vivek and Edesh Juggernath.

“My mom was a teacher and my dad, a businessman, who was always travelling to Botswana on business,” she said.

“I would watch over my brothers. We lived with my maternal grandparents. My late grandfather,