Sowetan

Miss Universe back home for braai and family time

Nel-Peters missed wide open spaces of Mzansi

- By Julia Madibogo

In between doing appearance­s and interviews, Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters will spend time with her family having a braai this week.

The beauty, who landed in the country for the first time since winning the internatio­nal beauty crown in November, said although her apartment view in New York was charming, she misses being home.

“It was minus 14 degrees at one stage – that has been a huge adjustment,” she said.

Nel-Peters held a press briefing at the Maslow Hotel yesterday as part of her week-long visit to the country before resuming her internatio­nal duties back in the US.

Asked what she missed most she replied “the braai place”.

“I just landed this morning. Hopefully we will have a nice barbecue as they call it back in the US,” she said.

“What we really take for granted in South Africa is how much big space we have. Living in New York is like this big concrete jungle, my view is just buildings on buildings and now and then it’s this little [bit of] Central Park. We are so lucky to have these open spaces and I miss that a lot,”

Nel-Peters is only the second South African to be crowned Miss Universe.

Nel-Peters was also recently named as one of the most influentia­l young South Africans.

“To be named among the most influentia­l young people in SA is such a big honour and I stand to empower women all around me and to show them that if we hold hands and stand together we can achieve a lot.”

Nel-Peters landed at OR Tambo Internatio­nal Airport yesterday to a large number of well wishers. She was welcomed by Minister of Women Susan Shabangu and her family, who were with 10-year-old Bayleigh Ellis whose wish to meet Nel-Peters was fulfilled by the Reach for a Dream Foundation.

 ?? / VELI NHLAPO ?? Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters with Bayleigh Ellis.
/ VELI NHLAPO Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters with Bayleigh Ellis.

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