Ogle’s tough path to Mrs Africa 2017 title
HARD work and determination has paid off for East London-born businesswoman Tarryn Ogle who was recently crowned Mrs African Queen 2017.
Ogle was crowned at a prestigious gala event in Johannesburg last month.
She was among 32 women from around the continent who took part in the pageant, including from Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, Swaziland and Mauritius.
Ogle, who is now based in Johannesburg, said one of her goals was to inspire and motivate women from all walks of life.
“This experience has given me the confidence to go after my dreams and believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to,” she said.
Although the pageant is not like any other, Ogle’s love for modelling, fashion and business dates back to her days as the winner of Model Hunt Modelling competition. She has also taken part in various modelling extravaganzas alongside international runway models. The Mrs Africa pageant was launched in 2006 by Carolyn Baldwin-Botha from Pageants SA and Janet Potgieter.
The aim of the Mrs Africa pageant is to create a platform in which the unique qualities of African women can be showcased to the world.
Ogle said entering the pageant had given her the opportunity to go after everything she has dreamed of.
“I’ve always wanted to get into modeling and also be a role model to young women. I have been able to do that through this pageant,” she said.
Pageant finalists are required to raise funds for Dignity Dream, a non-profit organisation that distributes washable feminine sanitary wear to underprivileged girls and women.
Besides the Mrs African Queen title, Ogle also won the main charity award and was named the Dignity Dreams Queen for 2016.
Through an initiative she herself started, Miss Teen Social Entrepreneur SA, (SESA) she managed to raise more than R95 000 which will go towards changing the lives of underprivileged young girls who cannot afford sanitary wear. Miss Teen SESA is an empowerment and acceleration programme for young girls in high school aimed at creating awareness around social responsibility and developing social entrepreneurship skills.
Baldwin-Botha said they were proud of Ogle.
“Through Ogle’s hard work, more than 500 girls will not miss school because they will have proper sanitary pads that they can use.”
Baldwin-Botha said Ogle would represent the continent at three international pageants this year. —