Beauty Queens of Bishan By Akshita Nanda

A delightful new novel that beautifully captures the essence of the Indian diaspora in Singapore through humour, rivalry, and community.

A light-hearted story, Beauty Queens of Bishan centers around stereotypical rich Indian families in Singapore, yet it does not leave out other parts of the community and how they all come together in the beauty parlours of the average-class heartland of Bishan. In Bishan, the busiest suburb of Singapore, thirteen small beauty parlours co-exist quietly, offering haircuts, bikini waxes and facials at no-nonsense prices. All that changes when a swanky new salon opens. D’Asthetique (Beauty is Skin Deep) is run by April Chua, the stylist to the stars. April’s plan for Bishan includes controlling her competitors through a new society, NAILSO (Neighbourhood Alliance of Independent Lifestyle Service Operators). The only person who dares to protest is the chubby Gurpreet Kaur, owner of Monty Beauty Spa. Both have clients in the upcoming Grand Glam Singapore Beauty contest. Will April’s shoe-in Candy Kang prove yet again why she is Singapore’s sweetheart? Or will Gurpreet’s client, Tara Chopra, prove a star on stage as well as in court?

About The Author

Akshita Nanda is the author of the novels Beauty Queens of Bishan and Nimita’s Place. Her debut Nimita’s Place was adapted for the stage in 2019 by Singapore arts group T:>Works and in 2020 co-won the prestigious Singapore Literature Prize for English fiction. She also writes non-fiction as a journalist and analyst interested in health, migration and the ocean.

The official release for the book is in October 2024.