1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
A. I’m currently a surgeon on the path to specialising in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. For the past three years, I’ve spent my spare time learning about the field of aesthetic medicine. This year I started my own aesthetic practice, where I have the ability to showcase my creative side by making a difference for women through aesthetics.
I’ve trained in Botulinum toxin (Botox), a wide range of fillers, skin boosters, threads, cannula training, and 3D facial aesthetics. Additionally, I had the pleasure over the years to train with some of the best in the industry including Julie Horne, from the Julie Horne Academy the Swiss Institute, known around the world for her lip filler mastery. I practice from Fourways cure day clinic on sunset lane, and soon will be expanding my business to include body wellness.
2. When, how, and why did you start your business?
A. I have always been interested in Plastics and reconstructive surgery after I did my rotations as a medical doctor through the breast clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital. We did mastectomies on a continuous basis as a curative measure for our patients with breast cancer and spent many days thereafter with my patients speaking to them about the loss they felt of their womanhood after a mastectomy.
I was interested in giving women the opportunity to have their womanhood back by breast reconstruction and knew this is where I wanted my pathway to follow, to have the ability to use my knowledge for both curative and aesthetic medicine. Through that, I found my love for the ability to make women feel good about themselves by doing aesthetics. The difference I was able to make just by training in aesthetics for women allowed my love for this field to grow.
3. What is your role in the business?
A. I am the resident aesthetic doctor in my practice, and I am pursuing my career in surgery.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
A. I studied at the University of Witwatersrand, I qualified with two degrees. My first was a biomedical sciences degree where I majored in Physiology, thereafter I completed my bachelor of medicine and surgery where I qualified at 24 as a medical doctor.
5. How did you finance your business?
A. Through my working for the state I saved up knowing my future plans and what I’d like to achieve, I put aside money to start up my business.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
A. Each of my workdays differs depending on my call schedule, a relatively normal day consists of waking up at 5:30/6, prepping for my workday, by prepping a smoothie and healthy meal, arriving to work at 7, seeing my patients and doing rounds, spending my time in theatre for surgery. Thereafter seeing my aesthetic patients in the late afternoon. Getting in one workout on certain days. Working on my charity projects for Miss International. I spend at least an hour studying, and always read before bed.
If I’m able to visit Mellow clinic or sculpt for my skin and body wellness, I do it once a month. Then prepping for dinner, completing admin. Spending time with my family and going to bed hopefully before midnight. On days when I am on call, I work for 25-28 hours at the hospital and then continue with my work after my call.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
A. It is not always easy, and this has taken me some time to find a balance with constant adaptations and change. But importantly I know that my family is always my priority and I work my life around knowing that my support structure comes first. I have learned that no day will come without challenges but have built the ability to adapt, always finding a solution and keeping my purpose in mind of achieving my goals.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
A. My drive and ambition come from wanting to attain change, I’ve worked extremely hard in my career and I know my purpose has and will always be medicine, knowing that I can use my knowledge and career to create change for our society and country is what I’m inspired by and I’ve seen my efforts reap rewards.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
A. My best ideas come to me mostly when I have a task at hand, I brainstorm all possible aspects until I find one that will be the best fit. This happens throughout the day, but often when I have time to just sit in silence and focus.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
A. Most of what I do is shared on my Instagram page @drf_dayal and through word of mouth.
11. What is next for your business?
A. I’m currently focusing on my path to get into plastic surgery, additionally on prepping for Miss International and my charity organization the Dayal Foundation. I’m currently running multiple drives, one of which is a winter drive for a children’s home and a pad drive for schools around Johannesburg. However, for my business, I’m hoping to expand to a wellness body and skincare clinic which are two aspects that I love too.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own businesses?
A. Find your purpose, once you know what that is, set goals for your achievements, and don’t settle for less. This is your opportunity to showcase the purpose the universe has given you to use your talent to make a change, and that should be your drive and motivation to achieve. Never be afraid to ask for assistance but most importantly know that you and your dream are what requires commitment and that’s where your focus should always lie.
13. What are you looking forward to most about the Miss International pageant in December?
A. I’m so thrilled to have the opportunity to represent my beautiful South Africa in Japan. To show them who we are, what we have achieved, and to stand proud on that international stage knowing that I have put my heart and soul into making a difference for my country and now with their intention to do that for the world. We have yet to bring home a Miss International crown and I’m most looking forward to showcasing exactly why we deserve this opportunity.
14. Describe what it’s like to be Miss International SA and how is this helping you impact the community around you in SA?
A. I have always been interested in philanthropy and have completed and assisted in many areas in our country to make a change. Having the ability to do this with the platform of Miss International is an honour. I have loved every second of the journey and learned so much more about our country and its people.
We have many projects planned to make a huge success of promoting the Sustainable Developmental Goals of the UN to create a better world and are creating a huge impact, especially in the medical field around the country. In the last year, I have raised over a million rand for multiple charity causes done through my foundation and will continue to assist where I can to help those that I can always.
