Photo creative designer and production team: Platin Omari and Australia’s Fashion Grandeur @ australias.fashiongrandeur
Hair & Makeup: Rainu Sharma, Rainu Sharma (@makeupbyrainusharma)
Photographer: Balzinder from Balz iclick
Uthra Raghava Simhan, also known as Uthra Simhan, is a Mrs. Australia Legacy International finalist for 2024. With a strong background as an engineer and over 21 years of experience in IT, particularly in sales, customer experience, and cybersecurity, she has become a prominent figure advocating for important social issues. Her dedication extends beyond her professional expertise, reflecting her passion for addressing critical matters such as men’s mental health, childhood trauma, and the importance of early developmental stages in a child’s life. She also emphasizes the significance of health and nutrition, focusing on holistic and traditional cooking methods to promote well-being.
Simhan’s personal journey is deeply intertwined with her advocacy. Her mother, a cancer survivor for 17 years, has inspired her work, and she openly shares her experiences of trauma and the strength required to navigate and overcome such critical life challenges. This resilience has fueled her drive to create positive change, making her a committed supporter of various non-governmental organizations. She collaborates closely with the Harmony Foundation and the Saroni Roy Foundation, the latter of which has launched a global initiative this year to tackle period poverty and promote gender equality.
In addition to her advocacy work, Uthra Simhan engages in the community by modelling for local events and supporting new entrepreneurs, designers, and small—to medium-sized businesses. Her entrepreneurial spirit is evident as she co-founded Fingerprints, a workshop designed for children to engage in DIY crafts and STEM activities using waste materials, encouraging creativity and sustainability.
She also maintains a presence as a YouTuber and jewellery designer, where she continues to promote her message of holistic health and community engagement. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed; in her first year of active community involvement, she has won several awards. These include the 2024 Blacktown City Multicultural Awards for leadership, achievement, and excellence. She was also nominated for the Blacktown City Woman of the Year Award on International Women’s Day 2024, as well as for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award. Her contributions were further recognized with the Pride of Workmanship Awards by the Rotary Club of Castle Hill in 2024.
Her influence extends to literary and media platforms, as she has been featured in the book Beyond Boundaries—Stories of Visionaries & Survivors by the Harman Foundation and in She Magazine. As a speaker, she has delivered talks on a wide range of subjects, including health and nutrition, the importance of a positive mindset, and the crucial issue of men’s mental health, contributing her insights and expertise to various forums.
Through her multifaceted work and community leadership, Uthra Simhan continues to inspire change. She leverages her professional skills, personal experiences, and passion to make a meaningful impact on others’ lives. GEQ magazine recently caught up with Uthra to discuss her journey in the industry, and here’s what went down:
You’ve had a great career spanning over two decades in IT sales and customer experience. What motivated you to transition your focus to community work, and how have these skills helped in your advocacy roles?
I think we have all had experiences growing up where our parents, grandparents, and families have contributed to the community, knowingly or unknowingly.
Ever since I can remember, my grandparents, parents, and family have always supported communities. My sister and I grew up with the teaching that “giving or sharing” is a blessing in itself. Sharing and supporting isn’t necessarily always about material things; it could be about spending time and being a good listener to someone going through the trauma of losing a loved one, the trauma of an accident, or simply spending time with someone who has had a bad day.
My sister and I would spend days at my mother’s workplace with visually impaired students, as she worked for an NGO supporting the visually impaired.
We were also part of the ROTARACT Club and spent weekends participating in various community events.
My parents would sponsor the children’s education. On our birthdays and for all special occasions and festivals, a portion of our spending would be donated to those in need.
So, we grew up supporting the community; it felt normal, like a ritual or even a tradition in our lives.
I must say I am blessed with a life partner who shares similar values. He will buy food or clothes when he sees someone homeless and wouldn’t think twice about sponsoring a child’s education.
Photographer: Rob from @newimagesydney
Hair & Makeup: Self / Uthra Raghava simhan (usimhan9)
Accessories: Self
As a finalist for Mrs. Australia Legacy International 2024, what do you hope to achieve through this platform, especially in areas like men’s mental health and childhood trauma?
Like many other girls, I enjoyed fashion as a child and being on the runway. I also loved performing dance routines on stage and being on TV or in front of the camera. I won my first pageant as the runner-up in Ms Rotaract India 2001.
I was selected as a finalist for Mrs Australia Legacy International 2024 last year, and the pageant was held earlier this year in February 2024.
The platform supports women in identifying various avenues, resources, and communities to expand their respective initiatives, which can grow into lifelong projects and ultimately become legacy projects.
As someone who has always been involved in community work, I wanted to expand my reach and support a broader group and more diverse communities. With the various areas I was already supporting, such as trauma management and sustainability, I decided to focus on three key areas: 1) Health and Nutrition, particularly the importance of traditional cooking; 2) Child Development, including raising awareness of early childhood health diagnoses and childhood trauma; and 3) Men’s Mental Health. The platform helped me expand these initiatives, especially on social media.
Initially, I never spoke about my initiatives; instead, I supported close friends, family, smaller community circles, and colleagues. I grew up thinking that helping others should be done selflessly and that we don’t necessarily need to talk about it. For me, sharing my work and achievements felt like self-praise or boasting. However, being part of the pageant changed my perspective; I realised that sharing what one does is more about providing direction and support to others who may need it.
You are deeply involved in promoting holistic health and nutrition. How do you incorporate traditional cooking methods into modern-day living, and why is it important to preserve these practices?
It’s extremely important to stick to one’s roots and stay grounded.
I personally feel that by adhering to our traditional way of cooking, no matter which culture we belong to, there is definitely value in it—it is healthier.
Every region has a particular cooking style and a specific way of consuming food, and there is a science behind it.
I have always been interested in topics related to health and nutrition. Coming from a family where both my parents travelled extensively, primarily within India during their childhood, they had the opportunity to explore various dishes. They loved to cook, and both are excellent cooks. As a result, my sister and I also developed a love for cooking and experimenting with different cuisine styles.
Photographer: Rob from @newimagesydney
Makeup and Hair: Self/Uthra Raghava simhan (usimhan9)
Your mother’s journey as a cancer survivor has clearly had a profound impact on you. Can you share how this experience has shaped your approach to coping with trauma and your advocacy for mental health?