Little more than a month into her reign as Mrs India South Africa, Saumya Tiwari, a former Tygerberg Hospital medical intern, is preparing to compete in the international leg of the pageant, Mrs India Globe, to be held next year.
Saumya is originally from Mumbai in India. She moved to South Africa six years years after marrying Cape Town doctor Dr Siddharth Gautam, a registrar specialising in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Tygerberg Hospital.
Saumya, who was crowned at Durban’s Olive Convention Centre, in August, said: “It’s my passion to serve humanity in the world. I cannot see anyone in pain and suffering. I am an advocate for women empowerment and rights. I believe that women are already empowered, they just need someone in their life to show how strong they are and what they are capable of.
“I wanted to motivate, inspire and educate people around me. By entering, Mrs India South Africa, it gave me a platform to open up my wings and to give my voice to the voiceless people.”
Saumya said was thrilled to win the pageant. “I was proud to be chosen as the winner out of the 19 finalists who participated in this pageant and to win the crown in the 11-year history of this pageant.”
Saumya, who stays in Century City, said Tygerberg Hospital held a special place in her heart.
“I had a great time working at Tygerberg Hospital and it provided me with an excellent learning environment,” she said.
Asked about her, duties as Mrs India SA, she said: “I will continue to empower, inspire and educate all the women around me. I am the ambassador of Smile Foundation South Africa and wish to raise funds to help this amazing NGO continue their great work by bringing smiles to all the children affected with craniofacial deformities. I believe we rise by lifting others.”
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