When beauty is more than skin deep

Cape Town - Not everyone’s a fan of beauty pageants.

Critics believe that beauty contests are shallow and promote a culture of narcissism that teaches young girls that a woman’s worth is based solely on appearance, while the organisers and past pageant winners laud the opportunities they provide.

Whether you choose to acknowledge them or not, it’s clear that pageants are not going anywhere soon.

Over the years, the Miss South Africa pageant has produced some of our country’s shining stars. Although some title winners have gone on to live quiet lives away from the public eye others, such as the 1994 winner, entrepreneur and media personality Basetsana Kumalo and title holder in 2000 Jo-Ann Strauss, a public speaker and businesswoman, often make headlines.

A number of young women look up to these beauty queens, and I met with some of them, the 2016 Miss South Africa finalists, for lunch at the Table Bay Hotel. I learnt that a number of them count the former title holders among their role models.

The group of 12 women, including Western Cape finalists Ronette Chambers from Cape Town and Marciel Hopkins from Paarl, were immaculately dressed, with not a hair out of place.

From afar they ticked all the beauty queen stereotype boxes – perfect smiles and immaculate make-up. But I soon discovered that the package came with brains and wit.

The three-course luncheon, hosted by Claudia Henkel, the 2004 Miss South Africa winner, was a laid back affair. The chat around the table was mostly about their academic pursuits and their post- competition plans of bettering the country and the people who live in it.

Some of the answers were guarded, vague and mostly similar, but one thing was sure – they have big plans.

Mikaela Oosthuizen’s ambition to win the Miss SA title started at 14. At that age, in 2010, she became the youngest Miss South Africa Teen.

Six years later the 20-year-old from Port Elizabeth believes she is ready to wear the “grown-up” crown.

“I am by far the youngest in the competition, but I am used to being the youngest. Winning Miss SA Teen was an amazing experience that I think has equipped me for the Miss SA role. Not only because I understand the dynamics of it, but I really think I have grown, become more of a woman,” she says.

“Over the past six years I have been exposed to so many things. A lot of people ask me why I would want to be the first Miss SA Teen to win Miss SA too. It’s because it has never been done before and I would like to be the first one. I know that what I would be able to achieve as Miss SA is 10 times more than what I am doing now.”

Education is important to Oosthuizen, who is a BA Media Communications and Culture student, and she plans to mentor young people and help students to acquire extra resources, such as bursaries.

The competition’s elimination process has been an emotional and rewarding nine months, says Oosthuizen.

“It’s been a balancing act but the entire Miss SA team has been very supportive. A lot of times I had to miss out on something because I had to fly home to write exams.”

In between photo shoots, the contestants spend time at the gym, lounging by the pool and enjoying some girl time.

It sounds glamorous but there is a lot of work involved too, Oosthuizen says.

Plans for Felicia Muwayi, 25, of Nelspruit also include mentoring young people.

“I entered the competition because of my love for young girls. Getting access to information in a village or rural area is a huge problem and, being a girl from a rural area, I plan to focus on that,” she explains.

“I want to be that middle-man that motivates and encourages young girls to believe in themselves and persevere at whatever dream they have, an older sister figure for young girls to look up to. I want to help them reach their full potential.”

Muwayi draws inspiration from the likes of Kumalo and Winnie Mandela. “Their strength and drive is what caught my eye.

“I believe that Miss SA is an influential young person that possesses resilience and strength,” says the communication science student.

For Elizabeth Molapo, 23, of Bloemfontein, her mission is to empower women, and she is not fazed by the limelight that comes with the crown.

“This process has really prepared us for anything, we have had a number of workshops, including how to carry ourselves.

“I am not worried about the pressure of being a public figure because I know who I am and I will always remain true to who I am and never compromise on that,” she says.

The Miss South Africa event takes place at Carnival City, Joburg on Saturday and will be aired live on M-Net and Mzansi Magic from 5pm to 7pm.

Along with the crown, the winner will receive prizes worth R2-million.

Finalists

The 12 contestants are:

* Elizabeth Molapo (Bloemfontein, Free State)

* Felicia Muwayi (Nelspruit, Mpumalanga)

* Luyolo Mngonyama (Umtata, Eastern Cape)

* Marciel Hopkins (Paarl, Western Cape)

* Mikaela Oosthuizen (Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape)

* Ntandoyenkosi Kunene (Mkhondo, Mpumalanga)

* Reabetswe Sechoaro (Pretoria East, Gauteng)

* Ronette Chambers (Cape Town, Western Cape)