Camryn McDonald, Rynfield resident and small-business owner, proved that a good heart is all that is needed to win when she bagged the Miss Teen Gauteng 2019 title recently.
The 19-year-old beauty said she had many dreams as a child of what she wanted to be when she grew up, ranging from a teacher to an astronaut to a princess to a singer and a performer on a big scale like Broadway, but several of these opportunities fell through.
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“So more realistically, I wanted to study theology when I left school as I was very involved with the youth and other ministries at Northfield Methodist Church,” she said.
“After I matriculated they gave me the opportunity to work there and see if theology was what I was meant to do.
“After many long conversations and a lot of prayers, I felt my passion of working with children and young people combined with being creative, I can hopefully study to be a teacher for foundation phase through Unisa next year while still working at the church.”
This sparked her interest in helping on a larger scale.
The Mr and Miss Gauteng is a philanthropic pageant and is a charity fund-raiser for the Role Models Foundation (RMF) who hosted it this year at Carnival City in the Rio Ballroom.
RMF is an NPO that intervenes in impoverished communities throughout South Africa specifically supporting the three most vulnerable groups within the community – pre-school children and youth (Imfudo Educare), abused woman and children, single moms (Asante-Neo-Life project) and senior citizens (Tamakhulu project).
“I entered because a few years back I had MCd for their Mr and Miss Johannesburg Pageant and I remember saying to my mom (Vivian McDonald) I wanted to be involved one day because you’re helping to save the world, but do it in heels, a sparkly dress and a tiara – most of the time,” Camryn said.
“I really felt drawn to do it because I can help children and youth which I am doing now through Northfield but on a larger scale.
“I related to the Asante-Neo-Life project because of my own personal journey and I hoped to be a testimony not just to the woman, girls and the children but to anyone I encountered that they can do it too.”
The beauty is also a qualified nail technician and owns a small business – Pinenyx Studios.
“I received awards for excelling as a philanthropist and a debutante which means I brought in a lot of cash donations and goods and services,” Camryn said.
“I also won the overall Senior Entrepreneur Award which means out of all the seniors I sold the most tickets and lollipops and for this, I got a certificate and a stunning black sash that has the Mr and Miss GP, RMF and the sponsors’ logos on it with the title – Gauteng Entrepreneur 2019.”
Camryn was shocked and it felt very surreal when she won.
“When they called my name it hadn’t clicked and everyone there who came to support me was saying – it’s you go,” she said.
“I truly felt like a princess and like I had been given a great responsibility, like when Arthur pulled the sword out of the stone. I told my mom as a joke this is the start of my world domination plan.”
She advised youngsters to strive for their dreams.
“Just go and do it – it doesn’t matter what you look like or where you have come from,” she said.
“If you have a dream to make a difference, make that dream a reality.
“Nothing is impossible with God by your side – be yourself and just love everyone to the best of your abilities.”
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