Tell us a bit about yourself...I am 24 years old, and I am currently working as a Test Analyst in Sandton. I finished my degree at the University of Johannesburg. I am also in a new chapter in my life, I recently got engaged to my best friend of a few years Francois, and we are getting married 1 September in Potchefstroom close to our home town Klerksdorp.
At what age did you get started with pageants and what brought about the interest?My mother entered me for my first competition when I was 13years of age, and that without my knowledge. I was selected as a finalist on my photos she entered, and then I had to compete on the Gala night. I was not happy about the fact that she entered me, but was very happy when I won the pageant. It was the first pageant I ever entered, and from there the interest. After that first win, it took LOTS of entering and competing, before I placed at a pageant again. I learned determination, and to take criticism, and learn from it. It wasn’t long, then I started to win big titles.
What was the first pageant you won?The first competition I won was the one I mentioned above. This was in Klerksdorp, my home town. It was called “Mej Skou 2001”
What is your favourite pageant dress colour and why? That would be confident colours; Yellow, Red, and Turquoise. It’s not really about what you wear. It’s rather how you carry yourself, and if you are confident.
Who is the one pageant queen you've always looked up to and why?That would be our own Charlotte Smith. She is one remarkable woman. She was a former Miss Teen Globe and Miss Teen World, and she is always supportive to all girls. I look up to her as a person, and to her as a beauty queen.
Any embarrassing moments on stage, if so...tell me more ;)?Don’t we all have them. Mine wasn’t on stage though. I was doing a national pageant where they transported us to Soccer City for a photo shoot before the Soccer World Cup. We were a lot of girls on the bus, and were not sitting very comfortably. My leg started to make pins and needles. The moment I stepped off the bus, my leg pins and needles got worse, and fell out of the bus. I fell so hard I had a whole in my jean, and I had the bruises to show months after still. It was hilarious. While they were doing every ones make up, they had to make up my knees as well. I still laugh every time I tell the story.
Have you had any support from your parents regarding pageants?Absolutely. My mother supported me through each pageant I have entered. As mentioned before, she was the one who always believed in me. When I had to raise money for sponsorships, she walked the streets with me to raise money. She made all my pageant dresses, and she was my biggest supporter. She was always prepared to give up her Saturday or weekend, to support me at a pageant. If it wasn’t for her, I would not have achieved what I did.
How important do you think it is to have a support structure (family/friends) when you part take in pageants?It’s extremely important. In the industry you will have to take critics opinion about you. You will need family and friends who will support you all the way, and help you to achieve your goals.
Who is your all-time favourite Miss SA, and why?My all-time favourite Miss SA would be the Lorna Potgieter. She is still involved in the pageant industry, and she takes the time to develop young ladies to participate in the Miss SA pageant. She is an ambitious woman, and I look up to her.
Which pageant are you most proud of winning?There are two pageants I am proud of.
The first one would be “Miss Teen Globe”. I won this competition as a teenager, I was 17 years old. The second title is “Miss Africa 2010”, which was the latest one. This pageant gave me so much exposure to charity work, and the organizers expect the girls to really make a difference with the Miss Africa title. I also represented South Africa at the Miss Teen World Pageant in 2007 in Australia.
What is your pageant goal for this year that one titles that you really working towards obtaining?To be honest, getting engaged this year has changed my view and objective for the pageant industry. I do not have a goal this year to win a pageant, since I am planning a wedding. My goal this year is to be as involved as possible in the industry. I love to judge pageants, and I judge about once a month. I am still involved in the industry, but just on the other side of things. Which is fun!
What's the one thing you love about the pageant industry?The Confidence it installs in these girls. I have seen girls develop from shy, dependent girls, into confident, ambitious young ladies that can take criticism and turn it around in to something positive. I was one of these girls. My mother enrolled me in a modelling school when I was 13 after I won my first competition. I am proud of the women I have become through the skills I have learned through pageantry. It has taught me interview skills, confidence, and how to handle myself in any situation.
The one thing you hate about the pageant industry?That would be the fact that certain organizers, the moment you win their title, dictates you to who you allowed to speak to, and what you are allowed to wear when you are representing the title. I feel that if you weren’t able to make your own clothing choices, you would not have won the pageant in the first place.
Favourite TV shows?My favourite TV shows is Greek and Greys anatomy. Although I don’t have time to watch TV often, I enjoy these shows.
Favourite music/artists/bands?To be honest, I love everything. I mostly listen to Highveld stereo on my way to work.
