Beauty queen advocates for mental health awareness among marginalised youth

The Star

16-05-2025

Saroop Roshi isn't just another beauty queen. The 27-year-old Miss Malaysia 2023 – who is now in Hyderabad, India, competing alongside 109 young women for the Miss World 2025 title – has turned her personal struggle into a lifelong mission to help children from marginalised communities.
As Miss World Malaysia 2025, Saroop is using her platform to spark real, tangible change in mental health awareness, a cause deeply rooted in her own journey of loss, resilience and self-discovery.
The fifth Perakian to win the title, Saroop's story begins in the small town of Langkap, Perak, where she spent her early years before moving to Ipoh, and eventually to Kuala Lumpur.
Each chapter of her life has brought new challenges, but perhaps the most transformative moment came at 19, when she lost her father.
'After my father passed away, I went through a very rough phase,' she shares. 'I experienced depression and felt utterly alone.
'Coming out of that was a huge challenge and it made me realise the importance of mental health awareness, especially in Malaysia, where this topic is still taboo in many communities,' she says.
In 2019, Saroop founded Unmask Yourself, a mental health NGO aimed at breaking the silence around suicide and mental health challenges.
Her journey set her on a path of self-discovery. Once a shy girl afraid to speak in front of others, she has since emerged with a newfound sense of purpose.
Saroop also shifted her academic focus from medicine to psychology, determined to understand the human mind and help others navigate their darkest moments.
'Previously, I wanted to be a doctor but my experiences made me decide to become a psychologist. Going through life's challenges made me realise the importance of mental health awareness and education, and this led to me finding my calling in life.'
Saroop helps marginalised children develop the necessary EQ skills to deal with issues such as bullying. Photo: Saroop Roshi Not only did Saroop's experiences shape her career path, they also inspired her to start her own organisation.
In 2019, she founded Unmask Yourself, a mental health non-governmental organisation (NGO) aimed at breaking the silence around suicide and mental health challenges.
This initiative grew out of her personal struggles and a deep desire to prevent others from feeling the same hopelessness and isolation she once endured.
'The reason I started Unmask Yourself is so that nobody would feel the despair and desolation I once felt,' Saroop explains.
'But over the years, I realised that merely talking about mental health wasn't enough. What was needed was action to create tangible change.'
Working with a group of clinical psychologists, Saroop started providing free mental health screening for marginalised communities where support is often inaccessible. She quickly expanded these screening services to include group therapy and art therapy sessions for at-risk youth living with issues like poverty, abuse and harassment, which often lead to them dropping out of school.
One particularly moving encounter involved a young girl who, during an early art therapy session, scrawled the words 'Die, die, die' on her paper.
But a month later, the same girl told Saroop, 'Aka (big sister), whatever you're doing now, I hope that one day, I can do the same to help others too.'
Moments like these have reinforced Saroop's belief in the power of human connection and the ripple effect of small acts of kindness.
Saroop says her book, 'Let's Unmask Our Minds With Ronnie The Horse', teaches children about emotional intelligence. Photo: Saroop Roshi Understanding that awareness alone isn't enough, Saroop sought to equip young people with concrete skills for emotional resilience.
To do this, she collaborated with Dr Eugene Tee, an associate professor at a local private university, to produce her book, Let's Unmask Our Minds With Ronnie The Horse , designed to teach emotional intelligence.
Written in a simple, story-based format, the book has been a vital tool in her outreach efforts, helping children from marginalised communities learn to cope with their emotions and handle life's challenges.
'The impact of helping these young ones is invaluable. They develop the necessary emotional skills to deal with issues that crop up in their day-to-day lives, such as bullying.
'I'm encouraged by the positive outcomes. There are some who once wanted to give up on life but are now thriving, helping their parents or pursuing higher education.'
That is what real, tangible change looks like, notes Saroop, whose community work has impacted over 2,500 young people around the country.
But her efforts extend far beyond the children's shelters and public housing (PPR) communities she has helped. She has also harnessed the power of social media, reaching over half a million people globally, sharing her story and advocating for mental health awareness.
'Social media is an important platform for advocacy. I've done multiple collaborations, and my strategy is to be myself,' she says.
'People can see my modelling jobs and the glamour that comes with it, but I also show the world the real me.
'I believe that speaking openly about my struggles humanises me, showing that this isn't just a story about a beauty queen, but someone who has overcome real challenges.'
This transparency has been a cornerstone of her advocacy, breaking down the barriers that often prevent open conversations about mental health.
'According to the World Health Organisation (as of March 2025), more than 720,000 people die from suicide annually. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds and 73% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
'But I want to show people that no matter what life throws at you, you can get through it – and together as a community, we can provide the support that's needed.'
Beauty pageants can be powerful tools for social impact, says Saroop. Photo: Saroop Roshi Not a newcomer to the pageant world, Saroop was first runner-up in Miss Grand Malaysia 2019 and in the Top 18 in Miss Universe Malaysia 2019 before winning the Miss Malaysia title in 2023.
She believes these experiences have also shaped her.
'These pageants have built my confidence and resilience,' she says. 'They've given me the mindset to not give up.'
As part of the Miss World competition, there is a multimedia challenge, says Saroop.
'This is one of the fast-track categories where contestants showcase their social media presence and creativity through platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and the Miss World app.
'The purpose is to highlight contestants' ability to engage with fans and demonstrate their social media savvy. The winner of the Multimedia Challenge is then fast-tracked to the top 20 contestants,' she explains.
For Saroop, the Miss World Malaysia title is not just a milestone but a starting point.
The psychology graduate aims to pursue a master's degree in psychology and eventually open her own mental health clinic one day.
As she represents Malaysia on the Miss World stage, Saroop also hopes to redefine what it means to wear a crown.
'Beauty pageants can be powerful tools for social impact. We're living in a world where even though women empowerment is happening, there are still women who struggle to be heard.'
To aspiring beauty queens, her advice is: 'Never let difficulties define you. Every scar is like a star that guides you forward.
'This is your time to shine.'
Those contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935/014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999/019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim's Family, Social and Community Care Centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); or Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929/Email [e-mail]/befriender centres in Malaysia).