For Dr Reshma Prakash, healing others isn’t just a profession, it’s a calling born from her own story of pain, perseverance, and purpose.
“I’m an orphan. I know how it feels to lose everything,” she said softly. “That’s why I offer free consultations and medicine to orphans and people with disabilities who come to my clinic. I never want anyone to feel as helpless as I once did.”
Today, Dr Reshma runs three clinics and a dialysis centre in Johor Bahru with her husband, Dr Raymond Rony, a remarkable achievement for someone who once struggled just to afford a roof over her head.
Her compassion has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this month, she made Malaysia proud by being crowned *first runner-up at the Mrs Universe 2025 pageant in Manila, Philippines. But what sets her apart isn’t just her beauty or intelligence, it’s her heart.
“My journey wasn’t easy,” she reflected. “When my father passed away, I was only nine months old. Growing up, I was bullied for being an orphan. But instead of breaking me, it made me stronger.”
Reshma grew up in poverty, watching her mother work tirelessly at a factory to make ends meet. “She would cycle to work at 4 AM every day,” she recalled. “Even when she was hungry, she made sure my sister and I had food. Her strength became my inspiration.”
Determined to change her family’s fate, Reshma studied hard and eventually fulfilled her dream of becoming a doctor. Yet, even then, the road ahead was far from easy.
“When I wanted to open my first clinic, I didn’t have enough money. I had to ask my mother for help. My husband and I lived in a rented house, three months behind on rent, and we often survived on instant noodles. But those hardships shaped who I am today.”
Now, every time she helps someone in need, she feels she’s honouring her mother’s legacy of kindness. “My mother always helped others, even when we had nothing,” she said. “So now that I can, I want to do the same.”
Beyond her medical career, Dr Reshma also holds a black belt in karate and is a trained dancer in traditional zapin, proof that strength and grace can coexist beautifully.
Her participation in beauty pageants, she says, is not about fame but inspiration. “I wanted to show women that no matter what you’ve been through loss, poverty, bullying you can rise again. I wanted to bring pride to my country and to my state, Johor.”
“I wake up early, send my kids to school, see my patients, and still make time for family. It’s not always easy, but when your purpose is clear, your strength follows.”
Her story reminds us that true beauty lies not in crowns or titles, but in the kindness we share, the lives we touch. Thank you for what you have been doing till date, indeed you're an inspiration!
Source / Image Credit : Harian Metro , KLHype