DOONSIDE sisters, Calista and Tarryn Paul, have both become finalists for the Zee Miss India South Africa pageant which will take place at the Durban Jewish Centre on December 5.

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Calista Janelle Paul

Doonside student, Calista Janelle Paul, 20, is an administrative assistant and is in her second year of studies towards a Bachelor of Commerce in Information Technology degree. In addition, she is an entrepreneur.

“Balancing my studies with work has taught me the importance of time management, discipline and staying committed to my goals, even when life gets busy,” said Calista.

She took part in a school programme called ‘Etiquette’ in Grade Seven and performed in talent activities in high school for Heritage Day. As such, it comes naturally to her to be in front of an audience performing, explaining that it gives her a rush of adrenaline, especially hearing the crowd cheer.

Her mother Indrani and her sister Tarryn convinced her to enter the pageant, which eventually gave her the opportunity to challenge herself, meet new people and discover her potential.

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“The journey has been exhilarating. There is something exciting about stepping into an environment that is both new and challenging while meeting other young women who each have their own stories, personalities and ambitions. One of my most memorable highlights so far has been visiting the SPCA and spending time with the animals alongside the other contestants,” said Calista.

Two of her biggest hobbies are dancing and baking. While dancing makes her feel alive and able to express herself, baking satiates her sweet tooth.

“The biggest inspiration in my life is my mom. She has played the role of both mother and father in my life. Watching her take on those responsibilities and continue pushing forward has shown me what strength, resilience and sacrifice look like. I believe it is important to appreciate the people who inspire us, but also to become someone that our younger selves would be proud of. I am particularly passionate about supporting causes surrounding gender-based violence,” said Calista.

She said that winning the pageant would give her the platform to support causes that empower others and draw attention to issues that deserve to be spoken about.

Tarryn Adele Paul

Tarryn, an accounting student, said taking part is a big step outside her comfort zone as someone who is generally shy and reserved. She joked that the closest thing to a pageant she has taken part in was her school debutants ball.

“I did not initially plan to enter a pageant. My best friend sent me the link and encouraged me to apply. I had recently come through a particularly difficult period in my life. I had struggled with anxiety and was not doing well physically or emotionally. Coming out of that period made me realise that I wanted to do something meaningful with the experiences I had gone through. I wanted to raise awareness about mental health and remind people that difficult seasons do not define who they are or where their lives are going,” said Tarryn.

She added that she would like to challenge herself after spending much of her life staying behind the scenes, hoping that the pageant can push her to find her voice.

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She is working towards a demanding career in accounting and has balanced her workload with pageantry and personal development.

“There have been moments when I have questioned myself, but the journey has taught me that confidence does not mean never being afraid. A highlight has been the people I have met throughout the journey. Since this was my first experience in pageantry, I have really appreciated being surrounded by people from different backgrounds and with different experiences,” said Tarryn.

Outside of her studies and pageantry, she relishes spending time at the beach, dancing and singing, as well as spending time with family.

Her biggest inspiration is her mother, Indrani. After her husband unexpectedly died in 2012, Indrani worked to provide stability for her children, making sure they were cared for and well educated.

“As someone who has always been quite shy and socially anxious, being given a platform and a voice would be incredibly meaningful. If I were to win, I would want to use the platform responsibly. I would speak about the issues that are important to me, particularly mental health, education and topics youth feel unable to discuss. I would want the title to represent growth. I entered as a young woman who was learning to find her voice, and I would hope to use the platform to encourage other young women to find theirs too,” said Tarryn.

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