San Rechal Gandhi, a former Miss Puducherry and a well-known voice for inclusivity in the fashion industry, died on Saturday at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry. She was 26 years old.

According to police sources, Rechal had reportedly attempted suicide on July 5 by consuming sleeping pills. She was first taken to the Puducherry Government Hospital by her father, then moved to a private hospital, and finally shifted to JIPMER, where she passed away.

Rechal was known for breaking beauty stereotypes and standing up against colourism in the fashion world. She lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her father, Gandhi, who supported her dream of becoming a model.

She gained attention in 2019 when she won the Miss Dark Queen Tamil Nadu title, which was created to celebrate beauty beyond fair skin. In 2021, she was crowned Miss Puducherry. Rechal also represented India in international modelling events held in London, Germany, and France. She often used her platform to speak about women's safety and social issues.

Police sources said that Rechal, who recently got married, had been struggling with depression.

Who was San Rechal?

San Rechal, also known as San Rechal Gandhi and Shankarapriya, was a model from Puducherry who became known for challenging traditional beauty norms in India, especially the preference for fair skin.

She won several beauty titles, including Miss Dark Queen Tamil Nadu in 2019 and Miss Pondicherry in 2020–2021. In 2023, she represented India at the Miss Africa Golden pageant. Rechal also walked the ramp at various fashion shows and appeared in multiple advertisements, earning praise for promoting inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry.

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