Ex-Miss Puducherry Who Challenged Colourism: All About Model San Rachel Who Died By Suicide

Last Updated:July 14, 2025, 12:35 IST

Rechal's victory as Miss Puducherry 2021 marked a turning point in her career, propelling her into national and international beauty competitions

San Rechal. (Instagram)

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.

Rechal allegedly consumed an overdose of blood pressure pills at her home in Karamanikuppam after she paid a visit to her father in the city. She was rushed to a government hospital initially, but was later moved to a private hospital. She was then admitted to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, where she breathed her last.

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)

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S...Read More

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S...

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Puducherry (Pondicherry), India, India

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