Beauty with a brain
LONEHILL - Kaylin John, currently a Grade 11 pupil at Crawford College Lonehill, is one of the semi-finalists of the Miss Teen Commonwealth South Africa pageant.
John gave Fourways Review an exclusive interview about her journey into the pageantry world. “I have just turned 16 years old and upon entering, I have become known as one of the ‘babies’ of the group. My passions include, among others, swimming, baking and helping my community,” she said.
The pageant creates a platform for teenagers to become charity and culture ambassadors within the country as well as in the international community.
John explained that the pageant’s mission is to empower teens by bringing sustainable change to communities in need through its projects. The projects focus primarily on social upliftment, food relief and orphaned children.
“Commonwealth pageants differ from other beauty pageants for the fact that it focuses on internal beauty rather than external beauty. In these pageants, a good heart outweighs a pretty face,” noted John.
If she won the title, John explained the platform would allow her to raise awareness on issues and causes close to her heart.
As a semi-finalist, a number of tasks need to be fulfilled in order to be considered for finals. These tasks include obtaining a sponsorship, donations and fundraising for John’s chosen charity; the Choc Cancer Foundation.
“If I could give advice to the youth of South Africa, it would be to make something of your life by making a difference in someone else’s. Making a difference could be as simple as giving a friendly smile. I say this because it will have a rippling effect. You can’t change the world on your own, but if you just affect the people around you and they in turn affect the people around them, then together we can change the world,” said John.
“I look up to my parents the most because the amount of support they have given me throughout the Commonwealth pageant has been impeccable and I appreciate everything that they have helped me with this pageant,” she concluded.
Details: Like Kaylin John’s Facebook page
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