Mother Africa crowned
JOBURG – Beauty queens go head-to-head at prestigious event.
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Forty finalists from across Africa went head-to-head in a bid to be crowned Mrs Africa 2017 in a glamorous one-of-a-kind event held at the Protea Hotel by Marriott at the OR Tambo Airport recently.
The pageant, which aims to restore dignity to the less privileged, required all finalists to focus on humanitarian work in their respective countries through the Mrs Africa Foundation. Each finalist had to choose a charity they would be raising funds for.
An overjoyed Oaklands resident and mother of two, Berenice Craddock walked away with the Mrs Africa Continent on the night, one of the titles that Pageant SA has a licence for. This title – also known as ‘Mother Africa’ – will allow Craddock the opportunity to accompany the Mrs Africa Foundation directors in handing out dignity packs in the Democratic Republic of Congo to women in displaced camps.
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“The Mrs Africa Pageant week for me was a very exciting, character-building time where I got to establish friendships with other finalists from various African countries and got to hear the various challenges each country and their women have to face on a daily basis,” said the newly-crowned Mother Africa, who has set herself a number of goals to better the lives of the many living below poverty lines.
“I want to approach corporate companies to assist in using their CSI funding to support Dignity Dreams Foundation and to support and get involved in areas of community service,” said Craddock.
“I want to visit local old-age homes and hospitals and give talks at various local high schools regarding the Dignity Dreams Foundation and to promote the purchase of Dignity Packs among the teenage girls.” Also on her list for 2017, the 47-year-old hopes to arrange a dignified tea to raise funds for the Dignity Dreams Foundation.
The overall Mrs Africa 2017 title went to Kedidimetse Tswai from Pretoria. She had the highest score in the pageant.
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All contestants were judged on their portfolios, interviews conducted with judges, on the compliance of tasks and their contracts as well as ramp and rehearsals.
“Pageant SA is still looking at international pageants, where I will qualify to participate in,” concluded an elated Craddock.
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