One of the few – My journey as a British-Mauritian-South Asian

We all have stories to tell. Mine is about being ‘one of the few’. I am incredibly proud of my South Asian heritage story. I am British-Mauritian-South Asian and I was born just north of London. Growing up in the 1980s, we probably were the only Mauritian family in our non-ethnically diverse town. I knew I was ‘one of the few’ and I didn’t always like standing out as someone who was different due to their heritage. It took me a while to recognise how being unique was a wonderful thing.

I am still used to being ‘one of the few in the room’.

It was when I was 18, at university, I met one of my closest friends Natasha when I chose to study a course in South Asian Studies at SOAS as part of my Anthropology degree at UCL. Natasha and I could tell that we were both Mauritian and by coincidence, she grew up in a town next door to mine – how is it that we hadn’t bumped into each other growing up?

After enjoying the diversity of going to university in London, I embarked on my career in fashion, music and media. I was one of the few British South-Asian fashion models and DJs in the late 90s and early 2000s. I worked with Vogue, Nike and The Body Shop as well as alongside celebrities Gok Wan, Naomi Campbell, Trinny and Susanna, June Sarpong and Graham Norton.

I’m pleased that representation has improved and we’re seeing more South Asian representation in fashion, media and music – although there’s still more to do. I love that my two young daughters get to see ‘people like them’ on TV and in everyday books.

When I moved into my corporate career, it was a culture shock. Not just because I worked in media where I could ‘be more myself’ but I could visibly see and feel how the City of London did not feel that ethnically diverse. This was in the early 2000s. Again, I was ‘one of the few’ British South Asians in the Human Resources team or on the whole floor. Fast forward 10 years, I was often aware when I was the only ethnical diverse individual (and sometimes the only woman) on executives teams in city law firms. Nowadays, I often find myself on client calls with senior people and yes, I am ‘one of the few’.

I’ve learned that being ‘one of the few’ is also about the stepping stone to sustainable representation. It motivates me. It also reassures me that I am inspiring others to represent diversity too. I have become skilled in creating opportunities even when there weren’t always role models of my heritage to aspire to or be guided by.

This also encouraged me to launch the Lucky Things podcast in 2020 as I didn’t come across many British South Asian podcasters (it’s fabulous there are many more now!).

Coming back to my Mauritian roots, my family and ancestors would have been living in India around 200 years ago. Slavery was supposed to have been abolished in 1834, so that’s when ‘indentured labour’ was invented to support the colonial economies around the globe. I have been told that our Indian roots are likely to be in South India with our ancestors on my father’s side speaking Telegu, something I am keen to investigate further.

In January 2018, I visited Aapravasi Ghat in in the Mauritian capital of Port-Louis. This is the remains of an immigration depot where my Indian ancestors would have first walked onto Mauritian land. Many did not return to India but built up the lives they could on the island. I will always remember slowly solemnly walking up the same steps where they would have walked and looked down at the stone rooms where they would have been kept before being moved to sugar or tea plantations around the island.  My eyes welled up with tears and my heart sank with each step. These days, I think about my ancestors’ resilience and sometimes wonder if I inherited any of their determination, drive and tenacity. Maybe this is where I got these qualities from.

It is important for me that I maintain my own links to Mauritius, its history and heritage when and where I can. This history has directly and indirectly shaped who I am today. I’m proud to have heritage links to India and never turn down a cup of my friend’s home made Chai Tea.

Sometimes you have to be the first, the one who stands out or who brings difference to the meeting room.

It has been amazing being able to share my story through talks during South Asian Heritage Month and throughout the year.  I am open about the challenges I have faced in the hope of inspiring others or helping to reduce stigma. I am proud to be an IVF warrior (we are grateful to now have two IVF children). I am proud to be a mental health advocate.  I am proud I have still maintained close family links despite experiencing family estrangement with particular individuals in my family structure. I am proud to create healthy boundaries. I am proud to be a change maker, helping others to be more represented or feel more included.

When delivering my Collective Insight workshops or talks on inclusion, resilience or celebrating our difference, I often reflect on what this means to me. I am relieved that I can now bring my culture, my heritage and my roots to my workplaces and work conversations whether I’m working with corporate, charity or creative teams.

I now take up any opportunity at work to wear a sari as this also shows off my proud Mauritian + Indian + South Asian roots.

I am often one of the few Mauritians in the workplace and you can imagine the mutual smiles when I come across another individual with Mauritian heritage!

I am incredibly proud of the difference I represent as a South Asian-Mauritian-British woman. Wherever possible I champion others who are different or who are under-represented. Sometimes you have to be the first, the ‘one of the few’, the one who stands out or who brings difference to the room. If you also happen to be ‘one of the few’, please do recognise your own achievements and resilience along the way.

Thank you for reading my story. Let’s keep on inspiring each other.

“Mersi” (thank you in Mauritian Creole) | “Dhanyavaad” धन्यवाद्  (thank you in Hindi) | “Dhanyavadamulu” ధన్యవదములు in Telegu

Sunita

You can follow Sunita’s work and inclusion insights throughout the year via LinkedIn.

Learn more about Sunita’s coaching, inclusion projects and professional development workshops at collectiveinsight.co.uk

Tune into the Lucky Things podcast on Spotify, iTunes and most podcast listening platforms.

Sunita founded Lucky Things in 2026, an online and in-person space for all women so we can look after our confidence, careers and wellbeing. Learn more over at @luckythingsinspire on Instagram.