Meet the faces behind Mr and Miss Benoni

There is tons of publicity surrounding the Rampage pageants, but very little about the owners, Debbie Moore and Claudine Stuart.

The City Times caught up with them to learn about their passions.

Best friends for 35 years, the duo took over the Miss Benoni pageant from Bernard and Sandra Gunzenhuiser 27 years ago.

“Unfortunately after only one year of guidance, Bernard died and Sandra didn’t want to continue without him. So with the agreement of the then Benoni Publicity Association, we were given the rights to the competition and have never looked back,” the duo said.

Fourteen years ago, they decided to introduce Mr Benoni and that was when the Mr and Miss Benoni pageant found its wings.

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“The pageant is aimed at keeping the community of Benoni together. We involve Benoni businesses as sponsors, which give them amazing exposure and a reason to be involved in the community,” they explained.

“The youth of Benoni enjoy the friendships made and the fun of the competition. We have, over the years, seen shy children come out of their shells.

“But one of the main reasons for hosting the competition is also to help Benoni. Each year we raise funds, collect food, and clothes for various places of need.”

Debbie and Claudine have experience in modelling; Debbie started at the age of 16.

“After matriculating, I did professional modelling for many fashion houses and was employed by Edcon as an inhouse model for 15 years. I entered Miss Benoni when I was 19,” the Farrarmere resident said.

Claudine started her modelling career as a pre-teen.

“I started modelling at the age of 11 and did professional modelling from 1992 to 1994. I did ramp work for many fashion houses and some photographic work for magazines,” the Rynfield resident said.

Both women spent their youth in Benoni, they both attended Benoni High School, while Claudine attended Rynfield Primary School and Debbie Arbor Primary School.

“We became friends 35 years ago, through our amazing family and modelling,” they explained.

“We have a dynamic friendship and partnership in Rampage. Not many people can say after 35 years of working together and being best friends, leaning on each other through good and bad, and have not had one fight.

“We were each other’s bridesmaids at our weddings and definitely got each other through motherhood, actually we still are!”

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Claudine studied public relations.

“I am not married, I have two children, Katelyn and Connor,” Claudine said.

Debbie studied real estate, resource management and TEFL tutoring.

“I am married to Robert Moore and have two children, Erin and Nathan,” Debbie said.

The two are in talks of hosting a Mrs Benoni and look forward to the Little Miss Benoni and Miss Teen Benoni pageants next year.

Apart from owning Rampage Modelling Agency and being a mother, Claudine spends her free time scuba diving, building Lego and spending time with family, while Debbie enjoys reading and family time.