Hard work on the horizon
Following the recent crowning of Mr and Miss Benoni 2015, The City Times decided to catch up with Claudio de Jesus and Catherine Reynders.
- How old are you?
Claudio: I am 23 years old
Catherine: I am 21 years old
- Where in Benoni do you reside?
Claudio: Lakefield.
Catherine: Farrarmere.
- Which primary and high schools did you attend?
Claudio: I attended St Dunstan’s College until Grade Five, after which I attended Martin School in Boksburg and continued on to Boksburg High School. My proudest moment was being made house captain and winning Mr Boksburg High in 2008.
Catherine: I attended Tom Newby School. I believe that Tom Newby helped shape me into the woman I am today. I received such a strong foundation in my primary school years and I will be forever grateful to them. I matriculated in 2012, from Ashton International College.
- What are you currently doing with your life?
Claudio: I am a graphic and multimedia designer.
Catherine: I am a second year student at the University of Pretoria, studying a Bachelor of Education (BEd FET General)
- What made you enter Mr and Miss Benoni?
Claudio: I have wanted to do Mr Benoni for many years and finally gathered enough confidence to actually do it. When I heard about the competition, I thought, why not? Perhaps I could make a difference in my community.
Catherine: I had never planned to enter the competition, but I guess you can say that history repeats itself. My mom and gran grew up in Kuruman. My gran was Miss Kuruman in 1953 and my mom in 1974. I love my hometown, and it is an honour to represent it.
- How did you feel when they announced you as the winner?
Claudio: I was completely overwhelmed, I did not expect to win at all. After my name was announced, I experienced a wave of emotions and it felt as if it was unreal. I will never forget that feeling of pure bliss.
Catherine: When they announced that I would be Miss Benoni 2015, I was really surprised and excited at the same time. The other contestants were of such a high calibre; the crown could have been won by any of them. It didn’t really sink in until I woke up the following morning. The crowning moment still feels like a blur to me.
- What do you hope to achieve with your title?
Claudio: With my title, I hope to achieve as much as I can, building confidence in children and helping out around my community.
Making a difference in as many lives as possible, I hope new possibilities open with my title and I wish to be a good example for children and members of my community.
Catherine: I hope to be a good representative of Benoni and an advocate for the community.
