Teevir Reddy, a 17-year-old Grade 11 pupil from Westville Boys' High, has won the 2024 Mr India South Africa competition.
“The competition was unique and although I am new to this whole thing, I enjoyed it thoroughly,” said Teevir.
Speaking on how he ended up competing, he said: "I was approached by Danny Moodliyar from Absolute South Africa, a modelling agency, while at the Virgin Active gym. I think I stood out because of my height (187cm). I then did some research and found out about the Mr India SA competition. I am more of an introvert and I wanted to get out of my shell. I knew the competition would help me do this, so I entered it.
“When I won, it felt unreal. I was proud of myself because my hard work had paid off. I did not think I would get this far because there were a lot of tasks to do to tick all the boxes but I did it."
He said he won more than R200 000 in prizes.
Teevir said his aim was to empower the youth and inspire others through this role.
He is part of the Aspire Athletics Academy and holds one of the fastest records in KwaZulu-Natal for the 100m and 200m sprint.
“My record for the 100m sprint is 10.72seconds and 21.93seconds in the 200m sprint. Aside from running, I also enjoy going out with friends and cooking."
He said the contest motivated excellence in young men.
"I want to empower the youth and inspire others through this role. I wanted to better myself in entering the competition, so I want to do that for others and have that kind of impact on them. I also think prioritising men’s mental health is an important aspect in making SA a better place. I have a younger brother and I have inspired him through this competition. That is my goal, to inspire the youth.“
His mom, Desheni Reddy, said: “His hard work, dedication and passion has paid off. His win is not just a testament to his physical strength but also his mental toughness and emotional resilience."
Danny Moodliyar, of Absolute South Africa and events director for Mr India South Africa, said: "The event cleverly combines the arts, business, fashion, culture and life skills. More importantly, we develop an understanding between the different cultures in Africa. Our objective is to empower young men to become positive role-models, who can impact the communities they live in.
“It is our aim to get the contestants actively involved in youth development programs. This is not a beauty competition, but rather a platform to grow the beauty of the mind and spirit. Our vision is to develop global leaders, who can make meaningful changes. The competition’s mission is to inspire youth through mentorship and development."
He said it was first time in Mr India SA history that the judges all agreed on one winner.