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NDTV
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Who Was Model San Rechal, Who Died By Suicide In Puducherry?
Model and social media influencer San Rechal, 26, died by suicide in Puducherry on Sunday. She was reportedly struggling with financial stress and personal challenges. The model allegedly consumed a large quantity of pills after visiting her father's home, leading to her hospitalisation. San Rechal was transferred between multiple hospitals before she died at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. A note recovered by the police stated that no one was accountable for her death. San Rechal had recently got married. Authorities are investigating possible marital issues as a contributing factor to her death. Who Was San Rechal San Rechal, also known as San Rechal Gandhi and Shankarapriya, was a model from Puducherry. She gained recognition for challenging traditional beauty standards, particularly the obsession with fair skin in India. She was the winner of multiple beauty pageants, including Miss Pondicherry (2020–2021) and Miss Dark Queen Tamil Nadu (2019). She represented India in the Miss Africa Golden 2023 pageant. She also walked the ramp as a model at several fashion shows and featured in several advertisements. View this post on Instagram A post shared by San rechal Gandhi / Pageant Coach (@san_rechal_official) In addition to her modelling career, San Rechal was actively involved in the 'Pondicherry Queens' community on Coto, a platform where women support and motivate each other. San Rechal's Stance On Colourism In The Entertainment Industry San Rechal was known for her dedication to promoting inclusivity and self-acceptance in the beauty and modelling industries. Her journey to self-acceptance begun while she was still in school, after years of being targeted because of her skin tone. She was driven to use to her voice as an example for those who experienced similar discrimination due to their skin colour. View this post on Instagram A post shared by San rechal Gandhi / Pageant Coach (@san_rechal_official) In an interview with Etimes, San Rechal shared why it was important to break unrealistic beauty stereotypes. She said, "My vision for the future is to create an environment that is free of any unrealistic standards and stereotypes of beauty. I wish to be in a position that changes the current perspectives of the modeling and beauty industry in our society. I believe that anyone can achieve their goals and dreams." The late model added, "The key ingredient is just to focus on yourself irrespective of what society says, irrespective of any obstacles or hindrances in your immediate external environment. I want to bring that kind of change and create a generation that focuses on achieving whatever they put their hearts into irrespective of colour, size, weight, and height, not just in the beauty industry but in all the others as well." Even though San Rechal was previously turned down by beauty pageants due to the colour of her skin, she eventually found success as a model, winning four titles and numerous awards. San Rechal, who had 180,000 followers on Instagram, was also the co-founder of a modelling agency Rose Noire Fashion & Grooming Ltd, and RADO's gift, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to rescuing and caring for indigenous puppies.
News18
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Ex-Miss Puducherry Who Challenged Colourism: All About Model San Rachel Who Died By Suicide
Last Updated: Rechal's victory as Miss Puducherry 2021 marked a turning point in her career, propelling her into national and international beauty competitions Popular model, ex-Miss Puducherry, and social media personality San Rechal—who allegedly died by suicide on Sunday—was a strong advocate against colourism in the fashion industry. Rechal rose to prominence in the competitive world of pageantry, where she made her mark despite facing intense societal pressures. However, her journey was not without its struggles, as she often spoke out about being targeted online due to her dark skin, a topic she frequently addressed in interviews and on social media. Rechal's victory as Miss Puducherry 2021 marked a turning point in her career, propelling her into national and international beauty competitions. In 2021, she was crowned Miss World Black Beauty, a milestone achievement that defied industry norms and prejudices surrounding beauty standards. She used her platform to speak out against colourism, sharing her personal experiences of online trolling, where she was often criticised for her skin tone. Despite the hate, Rechal remained a strong advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the beauty industry. She famously said, 'Beauty is not defined by colour, shape, or size. I embrace who I am and encourage others to do the same." Her success continued when she was selected to represent India at the Miss Africa Golden 2023 pageant, further cementing her status as a rising star in the global modeling world. However, behind the public persona, Rechal was quietly battling mental health issues. Sources report that she had struggled with depression for some time, but her ongoing battle was not widely known to the public. According to the police, heavy financial and personal pressure may have led her to take the extreme step. Officials said that in recent months, San had sold her jewellery to raise money for her career. She was reportedly hoping for help from her father, but he said he couldn't support her because he had to take care of her brother. The police recovered a suicide note, which said that no one was responsible for her death. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) view comments First Published: July 14, 2025, 12:34 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
