Kerishnie Naiker grew up in Reservoir Hills, Durban with her parents Amra and Joey, a self-employed businessman and two siblings.
During her final year, her father died from a heart attack.
She was studying towards her masters in pharmacy practice researching "The Social and Behavioural Factors Affecting Tuberculosis in South Africa" in 1997, when she became Miss South Africa.
[1][better source needed] Kerishnie Naiker was crowned as Miss South Africa 1997.
By entering the election, she intended to bring public attention to the large population of South Africans of Indian ancestry, who are an important part of South Africa's history, identity, culture and population, and to raise awareness on tuberculosis.