Ten young women stand a chance of becoming the next Miss World South Africa and representing the country at the international pageant after being shortlisted as finalists.
The finalists, exclusively revealed in the Sunday Times today, are aged between 18 and 26 and were chosen from 35 semi-finalists this week.
From across the country, the women — who include sport coaches, therapists, lecturers and students — will attend a week-long camp in Rustenburg next month where they will be coached in how to best present themselves.
Organised by Carol Bouwer Productions (CBP) for the second year running, the Miss World South Africa competition will take place in October at a yet-to-be revealed venue.
Bouwer, national director of Miss World South Africa, said the 10 finalists stand a chance of following in the footsteps of other South African Miss World winners: Rolene Strauss, who took the crown in 2014, Anneline Kriel (1972) and Penelope Coelen (1958).
“We've come to realise Miss World is not really a beauty pageant per se, it is a platform in which not only to nurture but draw future leaders from young women within each of the 140 countries,” Bouwer said.
Last year, Claude Mashego won the local crown and represented South Africa at the Miss World pageant in Mumbai, India.
Bouwer described the top 10 this year as an “incredibly talented and intelligent bunch” who all stand a good chance in the competition.
“Any of them can win — they are absolutely stunning, hardworking, intelligent and accomplished. It will be very difficult for the judges to narrow it down — I'm glad I don't have to judge,” she said.
Next month the finalists will be prepared for the competition through lessons ranging from international relations to perfecting their walk .
“We are taking them to camp to be given the best possible tools for success. The 10 of them will be joining me in Rustenburg for the camp, where we will be watching their diction, articulation, their poise and help them refine their 'beauty with a purpose' campaigns,” she said.
Bouwer said there would be exercises, training and competitions during the week-long camp.
“For me, Miss World South Africa is a way to help fast-track young women into positions of leadership, to find their voices, to understand they can't go into the world seeking to be empowered — they are born with the power and all we do is to nurture it,” she said.
This year's pageant will be preceded by a beauty expo and a fundraising gala dinner for the finalists, their partners and players in the beauty industry.
“This year we are unapologetic about the space of pageantry ... we are also creating a beauty expo where South African entrepreneurs in the beauty industry and global brands are able to showcase their wares,” she said.
“If you cannot walk the catwalk maybe you can sell the lipstick, design the jewellery or you can be part of the creation of our crown with us,” Bouwer said.
The fundraising charity dinner would be held during the week of the pageant .
“This would show us how these women are able to raise funds. You cannot be a winner of a global crown if you can't help generate income for the 'beauty with a purpose' fund',” Bouwer said.
The Miss World South Africa winner will spend a month with the Miss World organisation ahead of the global pageant. The date is yet to be announced.
Bouwer said she had been “overwhelmed and inundated” with dozens of entries.
“Our job is to make sure we don't just say yes to everyone but we painstakingly go through the entries to be able to crown [the one] who is able to get us the global crown,” Bouwer said.
“You want to be discerning in who you ultimately crown as that person becomes an ambassador for South Africa.”
She said her purpose is to create a space where young South African women feel safe to excel and lead, while the country gets to celebrate its uniqueness.
“While prizes and an opportunity to represent our country globally remain an important goal for the finalists, we as an organisation admire their shared commitment to serving our people. The winner walks away with an opportunity to heed the highest calling, becoming an ambassador of the excellence that's inherent in South African women.”
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