Beauty’s spirit of heritage
THE GLOBAL Miss Heritage is focused on influencing young people to safeguard and celebrate heritage, and South Africa’s newly crowned representative reckons she has an ace up her sleeve.
So confident is 22-year-old Sherianne Pillay, who claimed the Miss Heritage SA pageant at the weekend, that she already has her sights set on competing at the international pageant on December 4. She stood out from 18 other contestants who competed from all nine provinces at Carnival City in Brakpan.
The fourth-year Wits law student’s proudly South African spirit is what she regards as important in preserving our uniqueness. According to Miss Heritage SA director Dr Laverne Asante, Pillay is the full package.
“As an Indian woman, Sherianne encompasses all that is South African heritage. She appeals across all racial boundaries and is the full package of what the competition aims to portray,” Asante said.
Miss Heritage SA, which is in its third year, is held every September, which is Heritage Month, in order to tackle cultural differences.
Asante said the contest tried to encourage an awareness of our heritage.
She added that South Africa’s spirit of ubuntu was something which had already set it apart from the other 79 countries competing at the global competition
Pillay aims to be a role model and to make heritage “cool”. In her newly acclaimed title, she has launched a non-profit organisation called Princess Diaries to advance her plans.
“Our heritage should unite us. Although I enjoy my Bollywood movies and love to wear my Indian attire, my message is that we should love our country and explore other cultures instead of staying in our own box,” Pillay said.