Meet uMhlanga’s Miss SA finalist

LIZEL Birkenstock is not your average Miss South Africa finalist. “I am an adventurist and have summited the highest mountain in Africa – Kilimanjaro – which is not something most people have done. I am definitely not scared to break a sweat or work hard to get the job done. I also find it very easy to relate to different people from different backgrounds and interests as I am a very diverse person. I am active, cultural, artistic and ambitious,” she said.

The feisty uMhlanga resident said she entered the competition to inspire girls and women of South Africa.

“We have an enormous role to play in the success of our growing democracy. My aim is to showcase and represent the versatile, passionate and caring women of the country and to serve as a role model. Also, many women and girls have the wrong concept of Miss SA, and I want to change that,” she said.

Recently, the young beauty and her fellow 24 finalists have been inundated with a roller-coaster ride of workshops to prepare them as ambassadors for the country.

“It has been crazy, but also wonderful and humbling. I have met some of the most intelligent and beautiful women in South Africa. All of us have just soaked up the knowledge regarding body language, make-up and public speaking,” she added.

Birkenstock, a BCom business management and marketing student at Stellenbosch University, has two issues close to her heart that she hopes to address – education and animal abuse. “I hope to facilitate the growth of education among the youth and young women in South Africa. Education is the foundation for the country and many of its current social and economic issues. I truly believe that with education, we can foster peace. With education we can also combat animal cruelty, which is also close to my heart,” she said.

When asked who her role models were, she listed Maria Sharapova and Oprah Winfrey. “I played tennis at a provincial level for my entire school career. Maria Sharapova is the ultimate success story. Oprah Winfrey makes a difference and that is what I admire about her. She is fair, objective and cares about others,” she explained.

Getting to know Lizel Birkenstock:
Name five words that best describe you: “I’d have to say ambitious, authentic, athletic, passionate and warm.”
What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? “I am a very positive person, so the traffic doesn’t get to me. I just focus on how wonderful everything is and how lucky I am.”
What makes you angry? “Animal cruelty and abuse of power.”
Name one thing we don’t know about you: “I come from a family of four. Both my mom and dad are teachers. We are also a very sporty family, with my younger sibling being a national tennis player.”
What is your strongest family memory? “We are a pretty close knit family, but one that does stand out is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with my grandparents and my mother. It was such an honour and something that I will never forget.”

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