Kerishnie Naicker

Kerishnie Naicker
Born	Kerishnie Naiker Durban, South Africa
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title	Miss South Africa 1997
Hair color	Black
Major competition(s)	Miss South Africa 1997 (Winner) Miss World 1998 (Top 5) Miss Universe 1998 (Top 10)

Kerishnie Naiker is a South African pharmacist and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss South Africa 1997. Naiker placed Top 5 at Miss World 1998 and later that year, she went on Miss Universe 1998 and placed among the Top 10 finalists.

Early life

Kerishnie Naiker grew up in Reservoir Hills, Durban with her parents Amra and Joey, a self-employed businessman and two siblings. She attained an honours degree in pharmacy in 1995 and practiced as a senior pharmacist in hospital and retail pharmacy. During her final year, her father died from a heart attack. She was studying towards her masters in pharmacy practice researching "The Social and Behavioural Factors Affecting Tuberculosis in South Africa" in 1997, when she became Miss South Africa. ^{[1] [ better source needed ]}

Miss South Africa 1997

Kerishnie Naiker was crowned as Miss South Africa 1997. By entering the election, she intended to bring public attention to the large population of South Africans of Indian ancestry, who are an important part of South Africa's history, identity, culture and population, and to raise awareness on tuberculosis. Upon winning the competition, she became the first South African of Indian descent elected Miss South Africa. She became the eventual winner of the title, gaining the right to represent South Africa in Miss Universe 1998, and Miss World 1998. ^[2]

References

1. "Live your career dreams". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
2. Kerishnie Naiker - Speaker Inc., archived from the original on 22 February 2014.

External links

• Miss South Africa official website

Preceded by Peggy-Sue Khumalo	Miss South Africa 1997	Succeeded by Sonia Raciti-Oshry