Amanzimtoti model Angelique Janssen won the KZN Top Model and Most Photographic Model KZN at the Protea Hotel in Durban on Saturday, 10 December.
“I was absolutely stunned when I won both titles, as I certainly did not expect it,” said the gorgeous 20-year-old model.
“There were 55 female models from all over KZN in the semi-finals and only 15 of us advanced to the finals.
There were beautiful girls in the photographic category, so I feel blessed that I won this section as well. I am so grateful, as I am mostly a photographic model.
I only expected to do my best, and I believed that my best would be good enough. I put a lot of work in prior to this pageant, as it had an introduction, swim wear, evening wear and questions section. It was not all about beauty alone.
The competition was extremely tough. The girls weren’t just beautiful, they were friendly, intelligent and supportive as well. I could see that each of them wanted to win as much as I did.”
Angelique said she was motivated to enter by her Embrace campaign. In the campaign, which she launched in mid-2016, she speaks to teens and women about loving themselves and embracing their physical ‘imperfections’ which hold them back.
Her campaign was inspired by a scar she has on her arm from a suicide attempt while in grade 8.
“I entered so that I would have a bigger platform that would allow me to take this campaign further and also to practice what I preach. I knew there would be a bikini section and I wanted to spread a positive message that even though my body isn’t perfect, and even though I have cellulite and scars, I can still be confident in who I am. In all my years of modelling, this was my first bikini walk.
As Miss Photogenic Top Model KZN, I am going to keep my photographic modelling up and keep doing photo shoots with a positive meaning behind it. As a photographic model, I love creating images that evoke a positive message.
As Miss Top Model KZN I plan on expanding my Embrace campaign, fufil my duties to uplift my community and be a good role model.
Next on my agenda is to redefine and intensify the definition of ‘beauty with a purpose’. I’m planning many community uplifting projects for 2017, hand-in-hand with Zakhele Khumalo, the owner of KZN Top Model SA, who is also a member of the Playhouse Opera Company and Coca Cola Soul Ambassador.
I will go to more schools, even in the rural areas, to talk to the girls about confidence, self-love and emotional intelligence. These three things, I believe, are vital to become a confident and successful young adult.
I’m also planning to resurrect my anti-bullying campaign, as the issue of bullying in schools is still something I would like to bring to light and support the children being bullied and help the schools establish a bigger support system.
I thank my family for supporting me through this journey, Zakele Khumalo and Clive Hadebe for creating this amazing beauty with a purpose pageant, and the owners of Minty’s Fabric in Overport for sponsoring my gorgeous evening dress.
I truly felt like a princess. I am so grateful to everyone who believes in me.”
