The Miss South Africa (Miss SA) 2021 pageant has recently announced the top 30 finalists. Local beauty, 22-year-old Keashel van der Merwe is one of them.
The Top 30 is an impressive and diverse group. Among them are two medical doctors, an attorney, a commercial pilot, an environmental specialist as well as models, graduates and students. Some have started their own businesses while others run charitable organisations.
There is also the first transgender woman – Lehlogonolo Machaba from North West – to openly enter the Miss South Africa pageant.
Three have entered before – they are Miss South Africa Kgothatso Dithebe who was in the top 5 in 2019; Olin Shae de la Cruz who believes this year will be third time lucky (she placed in the top 15 in 2020 and top 26 in 2017), and Catherine Groenewald who was in the top 30 in 2019.
The 30 contestants come from across the country – Gauteng has 12 contenders (with four from Pretoria); followed by the Western Cape with seven; KwaZulu-Natal with four; the Eastern Cape with three; and the Free State with two; while North West and Limpopo each has one entrant.
Roodepoort’s own finalist, Keashel – an independent make-up artist – is ready for the challenge. She also has experience in the promotion business as well as a corporate background prior to venturing into make-up artistry.
“I entered Miss South Africa 2021 not only to empower women but to step into my power and future. I believe that I deserve this title because I am not only relatable, but I also never give up,” she said.
“I believe a Miss South Africa should be resilient, kind and patient, as well as a woman who reclaims her strength, not only for societal reasons, but to be a shining beacon of hope for women and young girls who wouldn’t deem achieving the greatness linked to this title as possible.”
Keashel became involved in the modelling industry at a tender age and fell deeply in love with everything it had to offer. She describes her biggest disappointment as the time she was forced to leave the industry temporarily due to being treated unfairly. However, she managed to conquer her doubt and fear, and made the decision to try again.
She is also very passionate about the future of South Africa’s youth.
“I believe the lack of opportunity is the biggest problem facing young people. If more opportunities were given to our young people, it would advance their livelihood, career paths and desired studies,” she said.
It is also important to remember that an effective role model lays the foundation for any big dreamer.
“My role model has to be my mother. It is known that a mother sets the tone for her daughter. She has laid the foundation for the woman that I have chosen to grow into,” Keashel said.
She also loves reading books aimed at strengthening one’s mind and emotional maturity, as well as inspirational material. Her single biggest achievement to date has been entering Miss South Africa 2021 as she believes that the best is yet to come.
“The Miss South Africa pageant has broken the stigma of what people believe beauty pageants to be. The organisation has created a platform built around empowering woman, giving all woman the hope and the enlightenment that they can achieve anything they desire,” she said.
The message she would like to get across to young girls and women in South Africa is that their self-doubt is nothing but false evidence appearing to be real. She urges them to let it go as none of their fears can go towards the greatness they are headed for.
For the next few weeks, she and the 29 other contestants will be out to impress this year’s top 30 and top 10 judges who are all former Miss South Africa titleholders, with Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala (2010) and Liesl Laurie (2015), who judged last year, being joined by first-time judges Melinda Bam (2011) and Tamaryn Green (2018).
The public is the fifth judge to select the top 10 finalists and will have until midnight on July 21 to vote for their favourite contestants. Each entrant has a number which members of the public can use to vote for on the Miss South Africa website.
The public can also vote using cash at a Money Market counter at any Shoprite, Checkers Hyper, Checkers, selected Usave and House & Home stores, or vote online at Computicket using a credit card. The cost is R5 for one vote, with a selection of bundles. (R20 for five votes, R50 for 12 votes and R100 for 25 votes. Voting bundles include free votes and cannot be split between different contestants.)
If you would like to see more of Keashel, feel free to visit her social media page on Facebook (Keashel Carlin) and Instagram (keashel).
