Mrs SA finalist talks empowerment and independence
BUCCLEUCH - EPITOMISING empowerment of women, Mrs South Africa finalist Marlene Naiker is proudly representing Sandton.
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The Buccleuch mother of one was recently named one of the top 25 finalists in the upcoming pageant, an impressive follow-up to her stint as second princess in the Mrs India South Africa pageant.
Naiker expressed excitement at being selected as a finalist and stressed that, for her, it was more than just a pageant.
Read about Sandton’s other Mrs SA finalist, Rene Roberts-Patel
“I think it is misleading to refer to it as just a pageant because it entails so much more than that; it is also about empowerment,” she said.
She elaborated on this, saying that she was able to learn a lot as a finalist and received much guidance and support from the Mrs SA team, something she was extremely grateful for.
Naiker added that the pageant was far different from what she was used to and opened many doors for her, allowing her to do more.
“I got to meet many amazing people and highlight charities close to my heart, such as the one I’m currently involved in, Babies Behind Bars,” she explained.
“What I particularly love about Mrs SA is that we are being equipped to be strong, outstanding women, and for me, that’s really important.”
Asked how this pageant affected her work and personal life, Naiker stressed that it hadn’t really changed anything because she loves keeping busy and taking on a variety of projects. She also added that the support of her family allowed her to do all she does and mentioned how blessed she was to have such support.
Speaking of the future and what to expect, Naiker smiled radiantly and said she hoped to continue growing her brand and growing at her current company, where she works as a human resources senior manager.
“I want to continue growing professionally because I really believe in remaining independent and doing it all, and I hope to carry on proving that to other women,” she concluded.
The Mrs South Africa pageant will take place on 8 October at Emperor’s Palace.
Details: For more information, visit www.mrssouthafrica.co.za or the Mrs SA Facebook page
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