Miss SA finalist aspires to spread hope and empowerment
"There is a lesson to be learnt from the power of belief because thoughts do become one's reality," - Lisanne Lazarus.
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MISS South Africa 2021 hopeful and top 30 finalist Lisanne Lazarus, 24, from Amanzimtoti says the reason she entered the beauty pageant is because she wants to uplift women of all ages.
She wants women to look at her and see hope, opportunity and a new beginning. “The platform of Miss South Africa will be able to amplify that and give me an opportunity to stand as a vessel for every untold story but, most importantly, inspire others to break their own glass ceilings,” she said.
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Lisanne is a middle child, with older sister, 28-year-old Latoya and 15-year-old brother, Jahiel. Her father Gordon is an industrial engineer and her mother Vanessa is a payroll and accounts executive.
 I went through a phase in my life where the content I was feeding myself on social media became inspirational for me and I dealt with disappointments and hardships through unhealthy lifestyle choices. Two years ago, I decided to reclaim the driver’s seat to my life and went on a journey of rediscovery.
Her role models are Miss South Africa 1994, Basetsana Khumalo and Miss World 2000 Priyanka Chopra Jonas who is from India. Of Priyanka, she said she would love to meet her if she wins Miss South Africa 2021. “I would like to share a cup of coffee with her and ask her how she overcame her struggles and the steps she took to emerge victorious. Her transition from a little Indian community to the Big Apple in New York City was something iconic for me to watch growing up. She didn’t allow limiting boxes to define her and in fact she went far beyond them,” she said.
Her message to young girls is that there is a lesson to be learnt from the power of belief because thoughts do become one’s reality.