LOCAL mother of two, Salomé Nel-Gouws (34), has secured her spot in the top 100 of the Mrs South Africa competition.
Salomé, who is from Waterfall, is the mother of six-year-old Christian and four-year-old Cayla.
The local beauty, who has won numerous modelling titles, said it has been a lifelong dream of hers to be an ambassador for South Africa.
She hopes to, through the pageant, tackle issues in rural areas whereby she would educate people about nutrition, hygiene, how to be self-supporting and live a healthy life. She also hopes to assist provincial hospitals with their issues regarding the lack of supplies and to raise awareness thereof.
“It would be a great privilege to be chosen as one of the top 25 in South Africa. It shows that I am moving in the right direction,” the beauty and nutrition specialist said.
Salomé said she looks most forward to the probability of being crowned Mrs South Africa, which would allow her to carry out her work at hospitals and in rural areas.
The blonde beauty’s role model has been her mother, Carolina Nel, who she said has inspired her to be the best she can be.
When Salomé was just seven years old her father died, leaving her mother with no option but to raise her and her siblings on her own: “She always found a way to be there for me, from my school athletics right up to now, where she stands right beside me in the lead-up to the Mrs South Africa contest,” she said.
Her biggest supporters, she said, are her friends and family, especially her husband, Victor, who, no matter what, has always stood beside her.
“The Mrs South Africa pageant is an empowering programme. The competition entails being a role model to all women throughout South Africa, whether it be for support, upliftment or just listening. It is also about always being there for each other, whether it be a friend for a day or a lifetime.”
Dine with SA’s beauties
Salomé still has tickets available for the CANSA Gala Dinner, where the top 25 will be announced.
The dinner is at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg on 24 April, and tickets are R650 a person. If you cannot attend the event, you are welcome to sponsor a ticket. Corporates are also welcome to sponsor an entire table at R6 500, which allows them to advertise at the event. Contact Salomé on 084 505 8582.
Vote for Salomé
If you would like to show your support for Salomé, SMS ‘Salomé Gouws’ to 35959. SMSes cost R3.
You can also vote by ‘liking’ the Mrs South Africa page on Facebook, then go to the Top 100 album and ‘like’ Salomé’s photo.
The more votes she receives, the better chance she has of making the top 25.