North Riding resident journeys towards the Mrs SA crown
NORTH RIDING – Karen McKenzie hopes her journey as a Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa Top 100 semi-finalist is one that will perpetuate the idea of beauty in all its forms.
Local mother, Karen McKenzie gushed over how becoming a Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa Top 100 semi-finalist was like a lifelong journey come full circle.
Her journey began as a semi-finalist on 2 March, when she and other deserving married women from across the country, were invited to the first-ever National Casting and Empowerment Workshop held at Emperors Palace, to help them prepare for the journey ahead.
The competition is one that is said to be a journey that has gained the reputation of a women-empowerment programme and prides itself on producing the very best in real, relatable and modern South African women.
It is also described as a programme that celebrates marriage and the essence of being a real woman.
“I was truly ecstatic and blown away after being selected as one of the semi-finalists,” said McKenzie.
The North Riding resident explained she had never really allowed herself to believe that she would have this opportunity.
“When I was chosen as a semi-finalist, it was like a lifelong journey had come full circle.”
An owner of a beauty salon, McKenzie grew up always giving her dolls a makeover as even then, the idea of making her world and the women in her world beautiful was important to her.
McKenzie shared how this competition is an opportunity for her to challenge and to be challenged.
“This is not just a platform to change hearts and minds but to also shift my own ideas about beauty with a purpose and… what a purpose it is!” she said.
After being introduced to Women4Women, a non-profit (NGO) and public benefit organisation focused on female empowerment and community upliftment, something triggered inside of her.
It was then that she was committed to this journey making a promise to herself not to have any expectations but to give every single encounter and interaction she would have with people, 100 per cent.
Only 25 women will be selected to continue the journey as finalists for Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa and they will be announced at the annual Charity Ball on 29 June at Emperors Palace.
ALSO READ: Randpark Ridge local sets her sights on the Mrs SA crown
