Model and Former Beauty Queen San Rechal Dies by Suicide; Police Recover Note

San Rechal, Former Miss Puducherry and Model, Dies by Suicide; Probe Underway.

San Rechal, a 26-year-old model and former Miss Puducherry, was confirmed dead on Sunday in a suspected case of suicide, according to police officials. A note believed to be written by her was recovered from the scene, stating that no one was responsible for her death.

Rechal, who was also known as Shankarapriya, allegedly consumed an overdose of blood pressure medication at her home in Karamanikuppam, shortly after visiting her father. She was first taken to a government hospital, then shifted to a private facility, and eventually admitted to the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), where she died during treatment.

Police sources said Rechal had been under financial and emotional strain. She had reportedly sold her jewellery to fund her career and was hoping for assistance from her father, who expressed his inability to help due to other family obligations.

Married recently, Rechal was widely recognised in the fashion and pageant circuits. She was crowned Miss Puducherry in 2022 and also held titles such as Miss Dark Queen Tamil Nadu and Miss World – Black Beauty Category. Beyond her modelling achievements, she was known for her outspoken stance against colourism, particularly in the Indian entertainment industry. Through interviews and public appearances, she advocated for greater inclusivity and challenged longstanding beauty biases.

While the suicide note rules out external blame, authorities have ordered a detailed inquiry to determine if marital or other personal issues may have contributed to her decision.

The news of her death has left the fashion and influencer community in shock, with many taking to social media to pay tribute and highlight the importance of mental health support in high-pressure industries.