The former Miss South Africas who have guided this year’s finalists
WILMA van der Bijl was Miss South Africa 28 years ago, but she is still recognised when she goes out. People stop her to take selfies with her — and she does not mind at all, she said. Most people remember her as the first Miss South Africa with short hair.
A pharmacy graduate, she runs a business with her husband in Cape Town. She has two teenage children. Van der Bijl said during her reign she had hectic daily schedules. “My day started as early as 6am and finished at midnight. I travelled a lot.” Home was a suite in a five-star Johannesburg hotel. “Being Miss South Africa exposes you to so many opportunities. Your reign is for a year — but the experience is worth 20 years,” she said. SONIA Raciti has balanced a life of glitz and glamour with that of being a mom to three children since she won the crown 17 years ago. She remains a familiar face at beauty pageants and has been a judge at Miss South Africa competitions in recent years. She is also asked to speak at many events. Raciti, who came third in the Miss World contest and fifth in Miss Universe, said winning Miss South Africa had opened many doors for her and she had been happy to grab the opportunities. She described it as a roller-coaster ride, making appearances at up to six functions a day and making sure she was not seen in the same outfit twice. CINDY Nell has some practical advice for the winner of the crown this year: “Stay level-headed, take business cards and remember people’s names.”
It seemed to have worked for her. She came third in the Miss Universe pageant, scored a modelling contract in Australia and had lunch with Madiba.
She said every year since her reign had become busier. “Every year I tell myself I am going to take it easy, but I never do.”
Now a mother of two, she runs a cosmetics company that supplies retailers nationally. She stays in the public eye due to regular television appearances. BEING a mentor to one of the contestants brought back memories of the day she competed for the title, said Tatum Keshwar, who was crowned Miss South Africa in 2008. She said that however confident she felt, she knew anything could go wrong on the night. In the six years since her reign, her life has been a busy one. “It changed me from the girl next door to a public figure.” One of the highlights was modelling at New York Fashion Week. “The title opened doors that I wouldn’t have been able to open had I not entered. Every year I … reflect on everything I have achieved and it’s all due to the competition.” She advised this year’s winner to “reach for the stars”. BERNELEE Daniell, who was crowned at Sun City 20 years ago, will walk the red carpet with her two teenage boys tonight.
A highlight of her reign was going out with former president Nelson Mandela, who took her to a movie. He bought her popcorn and held her hand during the show.
“We became good friends and he wrote me a letter when I reached the last 16 at Miss World,” said Daniell. Another happy memory of her reign was joining Bafana Bafana on their victory bus parade after they won the Africa Cup of Nations. “The girl who takes the crown this year must make the most of her year,” she said. SINCE winning the title, Jo-Ann Strauss has remained firmly in the public eye, gracing magazine covers and presenting SABC3’s Top Billing. She has served on the boards of a number of South African companies, such as Media24 and M&C Saatchi Abel, and is on the advisory board of the University of Stellenbosch’s graduate school of business. Strauss has a one-year-old son, whose birth inspired her to collaborate with a leading retailer in designing a range of baby clothing. Proceeds go towards Stop Hunger Now, a charity which feeds underprivileged families. This year she was appointed a celebrity advocate for Unicef. THE Miss South Africa crown gives the winner the chance to inspire South Africans, said 2003 titleholder Joan Ramagoshi, who grew up in Mamelodi township outside Pretoria. Winning the title allowed her to travel the world and network with opinion-makers. Ramagoshi, now a mother of two and the owner of a public relations company, has spoken at a number of events and corporate functions. She said that this year’s winner needed to be independent and business-minded. “She needs to remember who she is, leave a legacy and inspire someone.” Another tip: “Take loads and loads of pictures.” NICOLE Flint won the crown when South Africa was preparing to host the Fifa Soccer World Cup. “It was a challenging time. All eyes were on the country to see if we could pull it off,” said Flint. She attended the opening and closing ceremonies and her daily schedule was packed. She said she worked long hours but it was worth it.
“You don’t realise how much you’ve done until you hand over the crown.”
She has presented the TV reality show Tropika Island of Treasure and is now a presenter with Jacaranda FM. Flint said she was proud to be a mentor. “I wish I had had a mentor when I was competing.” PEGGY-SUE Khumalo was only 19 and just out of matric when she won the beauty crown. She lived with her mother, a domestic worker, in staff quarters behind her mom’s employer’s home. After winning the pageant, she saved up to buy her mother a house — “her first home”.
After her reign, Khumalo returned to her studies thanks to Madiba, who arranged for her to get a scholarship from Investec Bank to study overseas. Now she is an executive at the bank.
“The pageant gave me an opportunity to empower myself,” said Khumalo.
“Now these girls have an opportunity to transform their lives.” BEING a mentor in this year’s contest has been a fascinating experience for Miss South Africa 2001 Vanessa Carreira. “I have seen the experience as a way to witness the way in which the pageant and our entrants have changed in the almost 14 years since I was crowned.” She said the finalists had to deal with the scrutiny that social media brought. “They are perhaps better equipped to deal with the way in which their lives will change if they win.” Carreira has been married for eight years and has four children, including two-year-old triplets. She cherishes the memories of her reign, but is happy to be a stay-at-home mom. AFTER her reign as Miss South Africa, Nokuthula Sithole returned to her studies and graduated with honours in urban and regional planning and design from the University of the Witwatersrand. Then she battled her way into the maledominated property development industry. But the mother of two boys said she had fond memories of her reign. “The title just opens up so many opportunities: it’s like five years compressed into one.” She was happy to share her experiences as a mentor to finalist Busi Mahlangu, she said. “I see a lot of myself in her. It would have been great for me to have had a mentor.” BESIDES winning the Miss South Africa crown in 2010, Bokang Montjane’s greatest achievement was giving birth to a son six weeks ago. The baby’s father is Kaizer Chiefs striker Siphiwe Tshabalala. Montjane said mentoring one of the Miss South Africa finalists this year brought back many happy memories. “The pageant changes everything about you and how you see your country,” she said. “The power of the sash and crown enabled me to build business contacts and influence the youth.” She owns an events and catering company and runs a production company that does work for the SABC. Her advice to the winner is: “If the crown has your name on it, take it, it’s your year.”