Kerishnie Naiker was born in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.She completed matric with an “A” Aggregate Matriculation Exemption. She attained an Honours Degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm). She practised as a senior pharmacist in hospital and retail pharmacy. She was studying towards a Masters in Pharmacy (M.Pharm), researching “The Social and Behavioural Factors Affecting Tuberculosis in South Africa”, in 1997 when she was crowned Miss South Africa.

Kerishnie Naiker was born in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.She completed matric with an “A” Aggregate Matriculation Exemption. She attained an Honours Degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm). She practised as a senior pharmacist in hospital and retail pharmacy. She was studying towards a Masters in Pharmacy (M.Pharm), researching “The Social and Behavioural Factors Affecting Tuberculosis in South Africa”, in 1997 when she was crowned Miss South Africa.

She placed 7 Th and 4 Th at the Miss Universe and Miss World 1998 Pageants respectively. She was nominated best English speaker at the Miss World pageant. She was employed at the South African Broadcast Corporation as a continuity presenter as well as presenting lifestyle, magazine and cultural television programmes. She was the television anchor of Eastern Mosaic from November 1999 to November 2000. She has adjudicated the Miss South Africa preliminary interviews from 1998 to 2004. She is currently the anchor of Amstel Salute to Success broadcast on eTV on Sundays at 16h30, a programme showcasing successful South Africans.

She is the director of a company facilitating Corporate Social Investment projects, with Social and Human Development as it’s purpose. She is involved in health research, is a television presenter, producer, director, compere and public speaker addressing issues related to health, education, human rights, motivation, leadership, personal empowerment, customer satisfaction and growing up rather than growing old. She has performed as a speaker internationally (USA, UK and Europe). Her health talks can be directed to the medical fraternity or the general public.

She has worked with former President, Dr Nelson Mandela; The Nelson Mandela Foundation and national government on projects contributing to reconstruction and development in South Africa. She has facilitated the building of The Chatsworth Youth Centre, several hospitals and Tuberculosis Resource Centres throughout South Africa, with Dr Nelson Mandela being the patron of these projects. She has convened and compered events as personal requests by Dr Nelson Mandela. She serves as a trustee on two Charity Trusts.

She has studied music, hence has the ability to read music and play a few musical instruments. She has, on behalf of BET International covered the 28 th Annual International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in New York and the 2001 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles interviewing the likes of George Benson, Neena Freelon and Boyz 2 Men. She has presented and produced television shows for BET International covering South African jazz festivals.

She has presented the Assagai Awards, the Kora All Africa Music Awards, the Model of the Year and the Miss South Africa Pageant. She has performed as speaker or compere for Glaxo Smith Kline, Permark, South African Airways, Stax, British Petroleum, Siemens, Anglogold, South African Beweries, Canon, Spar, Vodacom, Engen, DaimlerChrysler South Africa, Lexmark, MSD, Standard Bank, Total, Microsoft, Reach for a Dream Foundation, BET International, Sasol, Pick ‘n Pay, Sahara, Unilever, Sanofi - Aventis, Sun International, KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, Reckitt Benckiser, FASA, Hyundai, CANSA, Murray & Roberts, Abbott South Africa, Computer Associates Africa, First National Bank and International Healthcare Distributors. She facilitated the 2002 MSD Brain Game. She has been the chairwoman of franchise and pharmaceutical conferences.

Kerishnie has interviewed many public personalities including Dr Nelson Mandela, Former Deputy President of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma, Luciano Pavarotti, Danny Glover, Ministers Mac Maharaj, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Jay Naidoo and Trevor Manuel. She produced the Voices Forum at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism on behalf of the United Nations. She conducted all interviews and provided general footage for the subsequent documentary. She directed and co – produced a documentary on the plight of Tuberculosis (TB) in Southern Africa for Sanofi - Aventis.

She has received academic, arts, culture, tourism, music and achievement awards.