Archana Sridhar, a pharmacist from Cowies Hill in Durban, will represent South Africa in the Mrs India Worldwide pageant at the Royal Albert Palace in New Jersey in the US on Sunday.
She will be up against contestants from the USA, Guadeloupe, Suriname, Netherlands, Guyana, India, and the United Kingdom. There will also be a Miss and Teen Miss category.
Sridhar's journey into pageantry began when she participated in the Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide season-13 pageant in May. She was crowned the first runner-up for the South African Zone. This achievement marked the beginning of her journey in pageantry.
"I view pageantry as a chance to explore new avenues for personal expression and public involvement. It aligns with my enthusiasm for embracing diverse roles and making meaningful contributions to various aspects of society," said the 48 year old.
As a Carnatic music fanatic, radio jock at Lotus FM, and Rangoli art enthusiast, her diverse interests make her unique. She said her biggest inspiration, her mother, instilled in her the values of determination and resilience, which guide her through life.
"I stand for embracing diversity, personal growth, and making meaningful contributions to society. I believe in celebrating different cultures, supporting others in their journeys, and using my platform to advocate for positive change and inspire those around me."
She added: “Through this competition, I hope to achieve several goals: To expand my personal growth and confidence, to connect with and learn from diverse individuals, and to leverage the platform for meaningful advocacy or social contributions. Ultimately, I aim to use this experience to inspire and positively impact others, while embracing new challenges and opportunities.”
In the US, Sridhar hopes to do sightseeing. She added that she would have loved to catch up with family and friends but there was always a next time.
She said her biggest supporters were the pageant's national director Shirley Naidoo of Hair Sensation, who had mentored her on this journey, her radio family at Lotus FM, and her pharmacist colleagues.
“I am also grateful to my outfit sponsors, my family and close friends,” said the mother of two.
Her future plans include continuing to develop her skills across her various interests that she is already involved in, while seeking new opportunities for growth and impact.
“I aim to further my contributions in my professional and personal spheres, advocate for meaningful causes, and possibly explore new avenues in public engagement and creative expression. I have ventured into short films and I am extremely thankful to SARGA entertainers for giving me the opportunity to act in a short film called Family (Telugu and English), which was released while I was travelling to the US for the pageant,” said Sridhar.