#Women’sMonth: Pageant queen uses her crown to uplift women

A SOURCE of inspiration and a true woman’s woman, reigning Mrs Uniworld SA, Melanie Kisten, is using her crown to challenge societal norms that may otherwise confine women.

The Bluff resident believes that apart from her motherly and wifely duties, a woman is still her own person and needs to also make time for herself as much as she does for her family.

She is the CEO of her own dance academy, an actor, stand-up comedian, humanitarian, philanthropist, motivational speaker. As a fuller figured woman, she said entered the pageant to challenge the customs of an ideal body type in pageantry.

“A good woman doesn’t necessarily have to look like a model, cook like a chef, or have the body of a 20-year-old. She doesn’t always agree with you and may push you as she pushes herself to do better and be a better person. Don’t judge her by centrefold standards. No one will be young and beautiful forever.”

“Look within her to see her true value. And with this mindset I entered this pageant so that people could open their eyes to the fact that a plus-size woman is no less than that of a woman with a beautiful figure,” she said.

Melanie is married to businessman, Aiden Naidoo, for 19 years and is a mother to Saiesha,13, and Saieshan, 11. She is big on charity and is most notably known locally for her volunteer work at the Joshua Singh Foundation and the Bluff Hope Centre, as she’s been with the organisation since its inception.

“Holding this title means having a voice to uplift an entire nation of women. It helps me inspire, empower and to teach them to believe in themselves and to share my experiences with them. I also believe in empowering the youth because they become empowered adults. This crown echoes dignity, trust, and purpose.”

“Besides being a mother or a wife, we also are women and we need to take time for ourselves and give ourselves an opportunity to step on a platform like Mrs Uniworld to give us a chance to explore ourselves from within.”

She said her mother’s resilience helped mould her into the woman that she is now and that her family is her biggest support structure.

“Also having a very supportive husband and children made makes my journey very easy. They have stood by me and help me prepare every step of the way.”

“I believe that if we fail, pick up the pieces and put them together, draw inspiration from your failures, keep in your lane and keep striving daily to become a better version of yourself,” she added.

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