A rose among the thorns

The town’s very own attorney and pageant title holder, Rosa van Niekerk has done it again!

Rosa has been chosen as a Mrs Africa Classic 2023 finalist. She is a practicing attorney and the owner of Rosa Van Niekerk Attorneys for the past 10 years. Being a survivor of a previous domestic violence relationship, Rosa has a passion for family law and women empowerment.

She believes in walking her talk and therefore assist gender based violence victims, by pro bono legal assistance to get domestic violence interdicts/ harassment interdicts at court and also does public speaking at schools, churches and events about gender based violence.

Rosa also collects and distributes clothes and other necessities for women in safe houses, to assist in the fight against gender based violence and she is a director at Project Rage NPO.

“Being a survivor of previous gender based violence, I believe that it is my God-given mission to spread my message surviving gender base violence, called Crown Up. When a baby girl is born she is beautiful, perfect and with an invisible Crown. During her life that crown may fall off if someone tells her something nasty, such as you are fat or ugly and she begins to feel insecure or inadequate about herself. This is when my message of Crown Up resonates. When you polish the outside of a woman with make-up all the inner beauty that she is really about, shines through, and the women puts her God-given crown back on. Thus my motto – get up, pray up, crown up and rise up.”

She added that entering the Africa pageant will give her a bigger platform to reach and empower women and leave a legacy that it is possible to overcome, adversity while breaking glass ceilings for the younger generation of women.

Rosa supports charities such as Reinhard Drewel Organisation (aiming to prevent child drowning through awareness and education), Nadibali Book Education System, Rotara School for children with disabilities using horse equine therapy, Gandhi Walk in Lenasia, South African Film and Industry Awards rewarding young and upcoming talent in the film industry, The Cradle of Hope in Krugersdorp, New Hope Child Care Centre in Westonaria and Look Good Feel Good Organisation.

“Africa Pageants wants to emphasise the splendour of African landmarks through their brand and magnificent title holders. Their women shine globally while they showcase the splendour of our beautiful African continent to the world.

The prestigious final pageant week and gala event is set to take place in November and the venue is still to be announced.

For more information visit www.mrsafrica.co.za or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AfricaPageantsOfficial/