The chemical engineer and former Mrs South Africa 2026 opens up about food, vulnerability and stepping outside her comfort zone on the dinner-party competition.
Verushka Singh’s life extends well beyond the dinner table. A chemical engineer and climate change consultant, she built a career in a field that demands technical knowledge and problem-solving before stepping into the public eye as Mrs South Africa 2026.
Singh made history when she was crowned the first Indian South African woman to hold the title in November 2025. Four months later, she stepped down to focus on her family, a decision that underscored the importance she places on the life she leads away from public appearances and professional responsibilities.
Now, on ‘Come Dine With Me’ audiences get to see another side of Singh, one that is less about titles and professional achievements and more about food, personality and navigating the unexpected.
Long before she joined the show, it was already a favourite. Singh recalled watching it while travelling and staying in hotels, describing it as a comfort show that could make her laugh and bring a sense of home when she was away.
“I absolutely, firstly, love the show. Like, one of my favourite shows,” she said.
Taking part gave her the chance to challenge herself and try something unfamiliar.
“I just like to also push myself a little bit and try and test different things. And I knew this was way out of my comfort zone,” she said.
The experience required her to loosen her expectations, embrace the unexpected and learn to laugh at herself.
Singh explains that she arrived with a beauty-queen mindset, complete with glamorous designer outfits, but quickly discovered that things do not always unfold as planned.
“You cannot take yourself too seriously to be on the show,” she said.
It is a lesson that extends beyond appearances. For Singh, the experience also highlighted the vulnerability that comes with allowing people to see sides of yourself that you might not ordinarily share.
More than what is on the plate
Food is an important part of the experience for Singh, but flavour matters just as much as the company around the table.
She enjoys bold flavours, particularly chilli, and has a soft spot for Thai and other Asian cuisines. At the same time, she is exploring ways to make meals healthier and more nutritious without losing the flavours she enjoys.
“I love the flavour of being there,” she said.
Cooking also offers her an opportunity to slow down. She enjoys understanding what goes into a meal and experimenting with ingredients to create something she likes.
“I think cooking is such a calming experience. You know, you get to just wind down and cook a good meal and put the flavours that you like into it,” she said.
But she recognises that cooking at home is a different experience from preparing a meal while cameras are rolling and people are watching.
When it comes to her own favourite dish, Singh chooses crab curry. She enjoys its spiciness and the hands-on experience of eating it, but the appeal goes beyond the food itself.
For her, sharing a meal is an opportunity to create memories and enjoy the company of others.
That philosophy carries into the way she hosts.
“I like people to feel at home. I like them to feel comfortable,” she said.
Singh wants guests to feel relaxed enough to open up, share parts of their lives and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.
Giving the host some grace
The pressure of hosting is something Singh believes guests should keep in mind when attending a dinner party.
While she admits that she is competitive and enjoys winning, she says her approach to the show was not solely about coming out on top. She was equally interested in seeing other people's homes, discovering their entertaining styles and meeting new personalities.
"I believe an enjoyable dinner party depends on guests being willing to embrace the occasion rather than judging every detail", she saif to iol.
People who are overly picky or take themselves too seriously can change the atmosphere in a room, taking away from the enjoyment of the gathering.
For Singh, guests should recognise the effort that goes into hosting and give the person welcoming them into their home some grace.
The emphasis should be on enjoying the food, the conversation and one another's company rather than expecting everything to be perfect.
Learning to let people in
Although Singh has spent time in the public eye, she describes herself as someone who has traditionally valued her privacy and personal space.
Being in the public eye has challenged that instinct, making her more vulnerable while also encouraging her to become more open to others.
“It's actually okay to let people in and get to know people because if you don't do that, you are missing out,” she said to iol.
The experience has also allowed her to appreciate the different personalities of people across South Africa, something she says she has come to love.Away from the cameras, her family, particularly her son, remains an important source of grounding.
Singh says motherhood offers a reminder that professional achievements and public recognition are only one part of life.
She also believes that the talents people possess should be treated as gifts, with the focus on how those abilities can be used to help others rather than elevate oneself above them.For her, success should come with a sense of responsibility and an understanding that everyone has something valuable to contribute.
As audiences watch her navigate the unpredictable moments of ‘Come Dine With Me’Singh hopes the experience will offer a reminder not to take life, or oneself, too seriously.
Sometimes, the most memorable moments are the ones that do not go according to plan.
Celebrity come dine with me South Africa premieres on November 18, 2026 on BBC lifestyle Dstiv channel 174.
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