Priya aims for Mrs India SA crown

LOCAL beauty and mother of two, Priya Boshoff, will compete for the coveted title of Mrs India South Africa on Thursday, 9 July.

The 34-year-old will go up against nine other title hopefuls but in the build up to the event, she will continue to juggle her workload, as any other successful modern day mother; work and family as well as preparations and training for the pageant and charity work.

Priya has worked with the charitable organisation ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) since she was 10 years old. She also helps serve more than 1 000 meals to the destitute communities in the Pietermaritzburg area through Food For Life South Africa, with the branch based at the Shri Krishna Goshala Farm in Thornville. The vision of the organisation is to create a hunger-free society through free food distribution. To see the work the organisation does, or to see how you can help the organisation, like its Facebok page, Sri Krishna Goshala.

She is also a singer and an award-winning classical Indian dancer and has received numerous awards from the South African Bharathanatyam College, with the latest being the ‘most outstanding performer of the year’, which she received in 2013. Priya also offers her time to help out with the dance school’s productions in the Chatsworth area.

In the build up to the pageant she will be taking part in social events and fundraisers, wearing her Mrs India South Africa sash. “The reason I decided to enter the pageant was not only to showcase my talents but as a way to be a positive role model for my children, and show them that you can achieve your dreams and that through hard work and perseverance you can achieve your goals,” said Priya. “It is also to show the mothers out there that no matter your age, you can still obtain your aspirations.”

During the pageant she will take part in two segments, one is Western dress, where she will slip into an evening gown and be asked a selection of questions and, in segment two, she will dress up in Eastern garb and be asked another set of questions. During each of the segments she will wear a different sash and has been tasked with finding sponsors for each sash she will wear. “The sponsorship per sash is R5 000 and the company’s name will adorn the sash as well,” said Priya. During the selection she will also showcase her talent. “It’s something that I have kept a secret, even from my husband, and I am hoping to surprise everyone on the night,” laughed Priya.

“My daughter, Arya, who is four years old, doesn’t really understand what a pageant is but she is helping me with my performance.” Her son, Kailash, is seven months old.

“My husband, Bernard, is very excited for me and has been so supportive as he looks after the children when I attend charity events and go for training for my pageant performance. I am very lucky to have him,” said a smiling Priya.

Once she has completed the pageant she will start working closely with the S.H.E. Foundation (Serve Help Empower), which aims to build a place of safety for destitute women and children who are victims of violence and abuse.

To follow Priya’s Mrs South Africa journey, follow her on Instagram @Priya_Boshoff, and if you would like to sponsor a sash, email priya.naidoo@gmail.com.