Miss Deaf SA hopes to inspire people
MISS Deaf SA Chantelle Pretorius will use the Vodacom Durban July to encourage people with a disability to live their lives to the full.
Pretorius will also represent SA at the Miss Deaf World 2018 in Prague, Czech Republic, in September.
The Eastern Cape beauty has dealt with challenges systematically through her formative years at Hangklip High School. And then completed her teaching degree at the University of the Free State.
“I want to motivate and build other people up, especially those with disabilities and people that get bullied in any way.
“I want to encourage people to embrace their own uniqueness,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Pretorius never allowed her disability to stand in her way
“I want to encourage people to have the right approach to life. The only thing you can change is your own behaviour, which enables you to make lifestyle changes and form new horizons.
“Just dare to begin. Look beyond where you are today – see what you might become tomorrow.
“With my disability I could easily have sat in my little corner feeling sorry for myself.”
Pretorius will wear a gown designed by Francois Britton, who will accompany her on the big day at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday.
She was diagnosed with meningitis at seven months and was given a 5% chance of survival.
At 11 months the meningitis returned, leaving her completely deaf.
She started wearing hearing aids and attended the Carl du Toit Centre for Hearing Impaired Children at the Tygerberg Hospital.
“A cochlear implant at the age of four opened the world of sound and speech to me, communication became much easier for me.
“In 2012, I become a Kovsie and represented the university’s first women’s football team from 2013 to 2015.
“I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 2015.
“At the moment I am a foundation phase teacher at Barkly-East Primary School.”
On representing SA at the Miss Deaf World, she said: “My goal is to bring back another world crown.”
The 2018 Vodacom Durban July takes place at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday.
Miss Deaf SA Chantelle Pretorius has plans to shine at the Durban July this weekend to encourage others with a disability that the sky is the limit.