Local beauty a semi-finalist in Empress SA

Local beauty Nichar Bay (23) is a semi-finalist in the national online beauty pageant, Empress South Africa.

Bay is one of the hundreds of entrants from across the country who entered the contest in June this year.

“I was afraid to enter the pageant at first because I really doubted myself,” said Bay. “But I entered anyway and I am very proud to have come this far.

“It is a great honour and achievement to be a semi-finalist.”

Empress South Africa is one of the first and largest online beauty competitions in the world and is a powerful influencer network by using the Beauty with Brains and Purpose platform.

The competition consists of three levels, contestant, semi-finalist and finalist, and to reach each level, the contestants need to earn points by means of various online tasks such as singing, dancing, and drama.

Each of these tasks is geared around them receiving points to progress in the contest, build their personal brand, develop and grow themselves into leadership roles, which is part of the contest’s Youth Empowerment and Woman Empowerment objectives.

The winner of the contest will receive a large cash prize among other prizes.

Bay grew up in Alra Park and graduated from Alrapark Secondary School in 2016, after which she went on to study management assistance at the Benoni campus, graduating in 2020.

“I was inspired to go into management by my mother, Amina, who had her own business,” she said.

“I always saw her as this incredibly strong and independent woman and that inspired me and that is why she is my role model.”

The contest has also inspired Bay to be more productive and innovative, which led to the creation of her very own startup business, Blanket and Curtain Wash.

“I just woke up one day and decided to do my own thing,” she explained. “My family has been so supportive of me in competing in this pageant and with the start-up.”

Her next task remains confidential, however, the community can still support her by voting and following her on Instagram.

“This entire contest has been very exciting,” Bay explained.

“And I’ve always wanted to be part of something like this, but I never knew how to go about it. This contest has empowered me to do more and has given me the confidence to inspire other young girls like myself.”

Bay said she wants to inspire young girls who don’t believe in themselves.

“I just want to thank everyone, also my friends, especially Brian for his photography skills.

“To anyone out there who doubts in themselves, just remember that no matter what the challenges you’re going through are, it is always possible to reach wherever you want to be in life.”

Bay hasn’t received any communications regarding the finals of the contest as of yet but hopes to gather enough points and votes to reach it.

For more information about the contest or how to vote, visit the Empress South Africa page or follow Bay on Instagram at nichar.bay_esa21.