Women who are rocking their world

Three local beauties have landed ‘starring roles’ in pageants that recognise their worth and the difference they have come to make to society at large

BHAVNA GOVENDER – Marriage is the start of a new journey, says Bhavna Govender, a finalist in the Mrs India South Africa 2017 pageant.the 32-year-old from Chatsworth is a rose among thorns at home, surrounded by her husband, brother-inlaw and father-in-law. She was inspired by her late mother-in-law to enter the national competition and discovered pageantry was a journey of selfdiscovery. Married for three years and with big shoes to fill in her new family home, she said:“a woman develops the strength to fulfil all the roles required of her in daily life.as a marriage enables your family to grow, the time you dedicate must grow too.” YAJNA DEBIDEEN – This Yellowwood Park model, newly crowned Miss Grand South Africa, is off to Vietnam next month for the Miss Grand International pageant. The world’s third-largest pageant aims to end war and violence. Debideen was crowned at the national event recently, after picking up a string of awards, including Miss Public Choice.the 23-year-old audiologist is completing her community service with an eye on the ultimate goal of opening a private practice that offers free hearing screening for the underprivileged. She says modelling and pageantry taught her a lot about the importance of self-image.“beauty lies in your confidence and belief in yourself, and in how you treat others – your imperfections are what make you unique.” ANNELINE CHETTY – Chief operations officer at the Department of Trade and Industry, Chetty hopes grooming entrepeneurs will be her ticket to victory.the 46-yearold from Chatsworth who now lives in Centurion is a finalist in the Mrs Commonwealth SA, which strives to empower women to inspire and motivate others and bring about sustainable change.the pageant is planned for Joburg in October. She received an award recognising her contribution to business at the annual Miss India South Africa Kwa-zulu Natal Pageant in Durban. Chetty served the Ethekwini Municipality for 22 years in economic development and town planning. She says:“i haven’t participated in pageants. I was nominated for this and accepted because it focused on empowering women and community development.” She does work for two charities.