Miss Puducherry dies by suicide at 26. Who was San Rechal?

San Rachal, a 26-year-old award-winning model and former Miss Dark Queen Tamil Nadu 2019, tragically passed away on July 12 in Puducherry, allegedly due to suicide. According to police reports, she had been battling depression and consumed an excessive dose of sleeping pills on July 5 at her residence in Puducherry.

Though initially admitted to the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital for treatment, she left the facility before being formally discharged. Her condition worsened in the following days, prompting her family to seek further care at a private hospital in Moolakulam. She was later referred to JIPMER for advanced medical attention, but despite doctors' efforts, she could not be saved. Authorities confirmed that a postmortem examination will be conducted on July 14.

San Rachal had a successful modelling career, with multiple titles, including Miss Puducherry 2021 and Miss Best Attitude 2019. She also represented India in various international beauty pageants held in countries like the UK, Germany, and France. Known for her confidence and advocacy, she often spoke at public forums on issues related to women’s safety and empowerment.

A Beacon Of Body Positivity

San Rechal established a strong identity for herself in the modelling industry, gaining recognition not just for her professional achievements but for fearlessly confronting the deep-seated bias towards fair skin that prevails in Indian fashion and film. She openly addressed the prejudices endured by people with darker complexions—especially women—and consistently used her voice to highlight the urgent need for diversity, equal representation, and inclusivity. Her efforts sparked crucial dialogues and pushed the industry to re-evaluate its narrow standards of beauty.

In a 2023 interview with India.com, he spoke about the discrimination she faced as a schoolgirl. During her formative years in school, Rechal endured persistent ridicule because of her darker skin tone. These experiences, especially during her adolescence, left deep emotional scars and affected how she saw herself. The harshest wounds, however, didn’t come from strangers but from within her own family, where relatives often compared her complexion to that of her cousins. This constant judgment made her question her worth and led her to internalize a sense of inferiority.

As she entered her teenage years, especially around the 8th and 9th grades, she began experimenting with various cosmetic products in an attempt to lighten her skin. Hoping to transform her appearance and gain acceptance, she tried different methods, only to face disappointment when nothing changed. These repeated failures led her to a critical point of introspection.

She began to question why she felt compelled to change her skin in the first place. That turning point gradually led to a shift in perspective, and over time, Rechal started to embrace her natural complexion. Through this emotional struggle, she realized that genuine confidence doesn't come from conforming to imposed beauty ideals but from accepting oneself fully.

“During my 8th and 9th grades, I experimented with various cosmetics to become fairer, but nothing seemed to work. It was then that I questioned myself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ Gradually, I started to accept my skin colour," she said.

The pressure she faced is reflective of what many young girls in society go through—battling unrealistic and narrow beauty standards that favor fair skin. Rechal’s early years show how such prejudices can damage one’s self-image, and also how powerful it is when someone breaks free from them.

Rechal’s journey toward reclaiming her identity took a bold leap forward during her second year in medical school. It was then that she discovered a regional pageant taking place in Karnataka, which sparked a long-suppressed passion within her. She saw it not only as a platform for self-expression but as a gateway to chase the dreams she had tucked away. Yet, like many roads that lead to something worthwhile, this path came with its own obstacles. When she submitted her applications to several beauty pageants, she was turned away solely because of her skin tone.

Even after earning multiple crowns and accolades, the rejection didn’t stop. Some people in the fashion industry continued to insinuate that her complexion wasn’t suitable for mainstream modeling.

An NDTV report said that investigators believe that intense financial burdens combined with mounting personal challenges may have led her to take the drastic step. Authorities disclosed that in recent months, San had been forced to pawn and sell her jewellery in a desperate attempt to fund her career goals.

Born and raised in Puducherry, Rachal lost her mother at a young age and was brought up by her father. With his support, she entered the modelling industry, overcoming challenges related to societal biases against her skin tone. Her perseverance eventually earned her recognition and respect in the fashion world. A few months ago, she got married and was living with her husband in Puducherry.