Who is San Rechal, former Miss Dark Queen Tamil Nadu who died by suicide at 26?

India Today

14-07-2025

San Rechal Gandhi, former Miss Puducherry and an outspoken advocate for inclusivity in the fashion industry, died on Saturday at the age of 26. The model, social media influencer, and founder of a grooming agency passed away at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) days after a reported suicide attempt on July 5.Rechal, also known by her birth name Shankarapriya, rose to prominence not just for her accolades on the runway but for what she represented: A powerful voice against colourism in beauty and entertainment industries.advertisementBEAUTY QUEEN 'MISS RECHAL'Crowned 'Miss Dark Queen Tamil Nadu' in 2019 and later 'Miss Puducherry' in 2021, San Rechal was vocal about discriminatory beauty standards in the industry. "My vision is to create an environment free of unrealistic beauty standards," she told 'Etimes' in an earlier interview. "I want to inspire a generation that believes they can achieve their dreams, no matter their colour, size, or shape."
San Rechal was crowned 'Miss Dark Queen Tamil Nadu' in 2019 and 'Miss Puducherry' in 2021. (Instagram/@san_rechal_official)
Born and raised in Puducherry, Rechal lost her mother at a young age and was brought up by her father, Gandhi, who stood by her ambitions to become a model. Her journey to self-acceptance began in school, where she faced bullying and discrimination for her darker skin tone. Instead of retreating, she chose to confront these biases head-on-using the very industry that once rejected her as a platform for change."The key is to focus on yourself, irrespective of what society says," she once said. "I want to bring that kind of change."RISING STARRechal's modelling career was defined by courage and conviction. Despite being turned away from several pageants in her early days due to her complexion, she broke through to win four major beauty titles and walk international ramps in London, Germany, and France. In 2023, she represented India at the 'Miss Africa Golden' pageant.
San Rechal won four major beauty titles.
She co-founded 'Rose Noire Fashion & Grooming Ltd', a modelling agency, and ran 'RADO's Gift', a non-profit that cared for stray and indigenous puppies - a cause close to her heart. On social media, where she had a following of over 180,000 on Instagram, Rechal often shared her thoughts on self-worth, beauty bias, and animal welfare.
San Rechal ran a non-profit that cared for stray and indigenous puppies.
She was also an active member of the "Pondicherry Queens" community on Coto, a platform aimed at empowering women.RECHAL WAS BATTLING DEPRESSIONAccording to police, Rechal had been battling depression and severe financial stress in the months leading up to her death. After reportedly consuming an overdose of sleeping pills at her father's home on July 5, she was first taken to the Puducherry Government Hospital and later transferred to JIPMER, where she succumbed to complications.Authorities said she had sold jewellery recently to fund her career and had sought financial help from her father, who was unable to assist due to obligations toward her younger brother. According to reports, a note recovered by the police stated that no one was responsible for her death, but officials are also looking into possible marital issues as a contributing factor. She had married recently, though little is publicly known about her husband or the nature of the relationship.- Ends