After taking a bold step by submitting her application for the 2025 Mrs South Africa season, the long-awaited casting day arrived, and Clairwood Hospital pharmacist Archana Sridhar was among those chosen as a semi-finalist.
The 48-year-old mother of two had previously attempted two pageants in the last two years. However, being announced as a semi-finalist holds significant value in her journey.
In addition to her day job, Sridhar serves as the public relations officer for the Andhra Women’s Forum, part of the Andhra Maha Sabha of South Africa.
Sridhar said: “This recognition is a testament to my hard work and dedication, and a celebration of the resilience and passion that have driven me to pursue my dreams. The big draw for me is the pageant’s promise of genuine empowerment, personal transformation, and the ability to make a lasting impact. More than just a pageant, Mrs South Africa’s main purpose is to equip women with leadership and communication skills. Through public speaking workshops, brand-building sessions, and mentorship, participants discover their inner confidence and amplify their voices as forces for positive change.”
She believes in the quote by Harriet Beecher Stowe: “A woman’s health is her capital,” and is committed to normalising conversations about women’s health, empowering them with the knowledge to prioritise their well-being.
Sridhar added: “I moved to South Africa from my home in Bangalore, India by chance. This was when I tagged along with my husband for what was supposed to be a two-year stay. Those two years turned into five, then ten, and eventually, I lost count of how many years I have been here. This unexpected journey has shaped my mission to normalise conversations about women’s health and empower women with the knowledge to prioritise their well-being.
“Living in various provinces of South Africa has exposed me to a rich tapestry of cultural differences that have profoundly influenced my perspective. The diverse traditions, languages, and customs have taught me the importance of embracing and respecting different viewpoints. This cultural immersion has enriched my understanding of women’s health issues and strengthened my resolve to advocate for women’s empowerment across all backgrounds.
“Although I had a successful research career back home, I had to seize the opportunities that came my way and reshape my career into what I have become today: a practising hospital pharmacist. This transformation has been both challenging and rewarding, allowing me to make a tangible impact on the health and lives of many.”
She said she has always held onto the traditional values from her upbringing, which have kept her grounded in both her language and culture.
“These values led me to a role as a radio presenter on Lotus FM. Believing in myself, I entered two pageants in 2024, winning runner-up in Dubai (May 2024) and placing in the top five while representing South Africa in New Jersey, USA (Sep 2024). These experiences played a key role in my decision to enter the Mrs South Africa pageant.
“The highlight of my clinical and pageantry career was Paris Fashion Week in September last year. It was there that I realised this is what I want to do for the rest of my life: educate women to walk the pageants of their lives through their roadmaps to health. This realisation has fuelled my passion and commitment to making a difference,” she concluded.
