Bakerton schoolgirl shines at Miss Gauteng Schools

Kei-Leigh Hannah Pillay was recently crowned second princess in the Miss Gauteng Schools pageant.
The pageant was held in Krugersdorp and to qualify for the pageant, entrants had to send pictures of themselves in their school uniform and wearing a plain white outfit.
The 17-year-old said she started modelling after she saw an article in the Springs Advertiser about Miss Springs.
“Back then I didn’t think I was capable of entering a pageant, but it was so inspiring seeing the articles about these women and I decided to enter.

“My first pageant in 2018 was Miss Springs and I placed second princess.
“For me, it was a big deal to go from not thinking I could do it, to doing it,” said Pillay, who is a learner at Bakerton Secondary School.

Also read: Uniquely Me, a pageant for children with special needs

From there, Pillay’s passion for modelling just grew.
Lockdown has changed a lot of pageants but a lot of them are getting back on their feet.
According to Pillay, competing in pageants has taught her life lessons that go beyond the stage such as knowing how to handle pressure and stress.
She is part of Synergy Modelling Academy in Strubenvale and said being part of such a small close-knit studio has helped her improve.
While fashion and photography are a fun component to pageants, this is not the only reason Pillay competes.
“The best part for me is the charity that comes with most of the pageants.
“I tend to enter competitions that mostly deal with charity.
“I go with my heart when it comes to choosing causes that I want to get involved with.
“As I go about my daily life, and I see someone struggling, I think about how many more people are struggling with the same thing, so I use my daily life to think about how I can help others,” said Pillay.

Also read: Local beauty crowned in international pageant

Pillay is involved with a place of safety in Springs and said knowing these residents and their story is what both broke her heart and made her want to pursue modelling.
In future, she dreams of entering more international pageants and doing more to help those around her.

Also read: Uniquely me pagent

In the meantime, the pageant bug has spread and has bitten her younger sister who competed in her first pageant this past weekend.
Pillay says without the support of her family and their fund-raising efforts, she would not be as far as she is today.
The teenager, who is also a talented singer and songwriter, aims to leave her mark on and off the stage.

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