A DREAM has come true for a Yellowwood Park woman who always believed she would one day be chosen as one of the Miss SA semi-finalist.
From a young age Priyeshka Lutchman (24) was glued to the TV screen each year for the Miss SA competition, watching thousands of women grace the stage. “It was inspirational and watching the first Indian woman, Kereshnee Naicker win the crown in 1997, was incredible. She was born and raised in an Indian community in Durban and gave many other Indian girls, including me, the confidence and hope to follow in her footsteps,” said Lutchman.
This year was her time to shine as she took a chance and entered the competition. Having made it through to the semi-finals, the experience has lived up to her every expectation so far. “It’s been loads of fun and very informative at the same. We are at Sun City for workshops at the moment and have been taught styling and wardrobe, how to handle money, make-up tutorials and many more. The girls and I enjoyed the Valley of the Waves in our downtime and there are more fun activities to come in the week which we cannot wait for,” she said.
She hopes that her being in the competition will open doors for her so she can live out her passion, helping young girls to achieve their dreams. She advises young girls to appreciate and work hard on their education. ” Education is very important in a young person’s life as they are our future. I hope one day every child in our country can be well educated and skilled to take on the world. Also respect, love and appreciate yourself. Embrace the body you are in and wear it with confidence. Nobody has the perfect body and everyone is different. You are unique and you should embrace your uniqueness. Be confident and don’t let anyone bring you down – own who you are,” she advises.
Lutchman would like to make a difference in the world by discussing a cause close to her heart. “I want to start a distribution network providing of sanitary towels to rural girls across South Africa in an effort to ensure they don’t miss school and do not have to be embarrassed about having their period,” she said. It a dream she shares with her family. Raised by a single mum and her role model, the semi-finalist was taught to be sensitive and care for others. “My mother has been a single parent of four children. She has inspired me to be the brave, confident, humble and God-fearing. She faced her obstacles and challenges with courage and strength. I hope I have inherited her strength of character and aspire to be as phenomenal as she is.”
