Making a switch with Miss World finalist

Désirée Oliphant Hilmer is a Miss World 2020 finalist from Alberton. She has previously held the title of Miss UN South Africa from 2016-19.

The RECORD chatted with her about her love for the South and her work as part of the #SWITCH Foundation, where she works with children and women to change their outlook on life.

About this and that

Désirée attended Eldridge Primary School and Willowcrest Secondary School, where she was a prefect for two years.

A highlight was when she bought a property in Brackendowns, where her two children, Luciano and Loréal, were born.

“Everything is bigger in the South,” said Désirée, regarding the spacious areas of the South. “People are more real in the South.”

In 2016 she was crowned Miss UN South Africa. As part of her campaign, she founded the #SWITCH foundation to reach out to young people in schools. 

“After I won my title, I just never stopped switching.”

Désirée adopted three schools as part of #SWITCH in Alberton – the Bennie Boekwurm pre-school, Brackenhurst Primary School and Bracken High School.

As part of her work with the schools, she would visit them in her ballgowns and sash to address them about switching their minds to a positive mindset and to help them realise a better version of themselves.
Désirée also acts as an ambassador for Brackendowns SAPS, working with them and their awareness campaigns.

Renew yourself

According to Désirée, Women’s Month will remain a month of extreme importance until South Africans reach a balance between the position and roles of genders in society.

“We still need to clearly understand the role of women in society as a sister, as a mother and until we completely eradicate GBV,” she said.

Désirée’s message for young girls is to evolve, and to be a better version of themselves regardless of the situation they are facing.

“Renew your mind, renew your stance and realign your vision with your dreams,” said Désirée.