Pretoria beauties vying for THAT crown

16/03/2016. Sharon-Rose Khumalo, left and Reabetswe Sechoaro, playing with make-up, taking selfies and sharing a joke as they ease their nerves looking forward to the big event, the Miss SA 2016 pegeant this evening. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

16/03/2016. Sharon-Rose Khumalo, left and Reabetswe Sechoaro, playing with make-up, taking selfies and sharing a joke as they ease their nerves looking forward to the big event, the Miss SA 2016 pegeant this evening. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

Published Mar 19, 2016

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Pretoria - Who knows? Maybe you have been chosen to be a queen for such a time as this.

The biblical dictum is ringing in the minds of Pretoria beauties Reabetswe Sechoaro, 22, and Sharon-Rose Khumalo, 25. The girls are in line to be crowned Miss South Africa 2016 on Saturday evening.

Like Mordecai in the Bible, they believe this could be their appointed time to be named the most beautiful woman in the country.

Both said their fate was in the hands of God, and believe the almighty had already decided who would be crowned Miss SA 2016 at Carnival City.

In Sechoaro’s words, Miss SA was born, not made.

“It’s someone’s destiny; it is written in the sky. Before we all entered this pageant, God had already decided on who was going to walk away as the reigning queen of our country. If it’s me, I will be even more excited, because it’s a dream I have always had that could come true some day.”

Khumalo said God would make the final call on who wore the crown. “The most important thing is that I know that I am ready to take on such a role.

“I feel like every experience in my life has been preparing me for such a time as this. It only made sense later on in life that our life as a journey is something that God has planned, and only he can direct me from glory to glory.”

The journey that ends on Saturday has been a lifetime experience for the two, which they said they would cherish forever.

Thankfully, even as they got closer to these final moments, they haven’t had any nerves - thanks to the hectic day-to-day activities in preparation to the final moment.

“We have very hectic days. When it’s time to sleep, we just pass out. Thankfully, we don’t have those nightmares where we visualise about the final day and seeing someone being crowned, and that person is not us,” said Khumalo, as Sechoaro nodded in agreement.

Sechoaro added: “It’s been six or seven months of a very intense training. I am excited it’s coming to an end, but I am more thrilled that finally I am going to find out who is going to be the winner.”

Khumalo said there were moments where she saw “this girl from Mamelodi” in an outside-of-body experience, referring to herself.

“There is never a time where it doesn’t feel surreal anymore. I can see now that, actually, this township girl could just be the next Miss SA.”

Their journey has shaped the two jewels of the capital city. Even without being crowned Miss SA, they believe that they are ready to take on the world.

“Miss SA has redefined my goals and ambitions. I have seen my potential, I have learned so much about myself, who I am, and have so much confidence of who I have become,” Khumalo explained.

Sechoaro said that she was going to push ahead with her dreams and goals, too, with or without the crown.

“I have gained so much from this experience. I’ll forever be thankful to the sponsors, and everybody who supported me through the journey - my mom, aunt and, of course, God. I am going to open orphanages in South Africa.

“But being Miss SA would make my life and goal more easily achievable.”

The nation and the world will see which of their pretty faces, good figures, healthy lifestyles and ambitions will determine who gets the crown. And South Africa will know the queen who was appointed for such a time as this.

 

MISS SA 2016 FACTS

12 finalists from across the country are vying for the crown.Basetsana Kumalo has withdrawn as a judge. The others are former magazine editor Kojo Baffoe, actress Sophie Ndaba, designer Casper Bosman and style icon Pnina Fenster

Miss SA will be crowned witha brand new glittering master-piece worthy of her prestigioustitle named ‘Enhle’, beautiful one in Zulu.

Miss South Africa is presented by Sun International with Cell C, and takes place at Carnival City.

Broadcast is on M-Net and on Mzansi Magic from 5pm to 7pm.

Pretoria News Weekend

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