Mr Benoni 2018, Charl Steyn (24), is living proof that despite life’s challenges, the decision to have a good life is up to you.
“I was a thriving cricket player but that ended after a car accident in 2014,” the Northmead resident said.
“After the death of my grandmother and cousin in 2016, I fell off the rails a bit and got involved in the wrong things.
“I was honest (about it) and I have been on the high paths for the past two and a half years now, and it’s actually the reason why my company is around today.”
Charl is the proud owner of Charl Steyn Photography.
He is also an image retoucher and image advisor.
“I went through a major weight-loss over the course of the past year,” Charl said.
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“I started off my journey weighing in at 102kgs and couldn’t handle the three-digit weight anymore so I changed my lifestyle and habits and I was able to lose 27kg by the time Mr and Miss Benoni commenced.
“So the reason why I entered was as a confidence booster and to basically put the cherry on top of the cake so to speak. I was not expecting to come out with the title at all.”
Charl said the experience was incredible.
“It is one of my fondest memories because it gave me the incredible opportunity to meet the amazing organisers and contestants,” he said.
“To this day I am still friends with every single person that was involved and that to me was the best experience of it all.
“It was my first time entering and I was terrified but with all the help, motivation and inspiration I got from everyone made the competition a lot less stressful.”
He recommended that the youth of Benoni get involved with this platform.
“Going into your first rehearsal is like starting your first day at school but after about 20 minutes you have made friends that will stay with you and support you,” the stud said.
“Mr and Miss Benoni is also an incredible platform to kick-start your out of school career and open your life up to a whole bunch of possible working genres.”
Growing up in Benoni, Charl said himself and Caitlyn Wright (Miss Benoni 2018) aim to do all they can for the community.
“You will be seeing us around at sports days, charity events, doing fund-raisers and we are actually co-hosting a Christmas party this December,” he said.
“We would like to do a lot in our year as Mr and Miss Benoni and we want companies in and around the area to contact us so that we can help in the best way we possibly which is sharing and showing love around our beautiful town.”
Rampage Modeling Agency can be contacted on 011 425 1728.
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