RICHARDS Bay’s youth empowerment activist Celeste Robertson will be vying for the Mrs South Africa pageant title.
The 29-year-old Bay beauty and founder of non-profit organisation, Born Brave Foundation, will attend the semi-finalists workshop in Johannesburg on Saturday leading up to the announcement of finalists next month and a grand gala event on Women’s Day.
Spearheading a community project, which aims to help empower the youth through the performing arts such as modelling, dance, arts and drama, Robertson said it was exciting to pursue her childhood aspiration of participating in a national modelling competition.
Modelling in her teens, her ambition was to participate in the Miss SA pageant and when that did not materialise due to personal circumstances, she gave up on the dream.
Working with the youth on community initiatives the last few years ignited her passion to follow her goal of strutting down the catwalk one last time.
‘I began modelling and drama classes last year again and I could feel the confidence building up within me as I taught my students. ‘The experience uncovered that dream which was locked away all these years.
‘I want to participate in this pageant and represent all the women in my community and let South Africa and the world know that no matter how life may get you down, a dream never dies as long as you keep it alive.
‘I am grateful to the community who have given me the platform to share my vision and for their support.
‘While I am Born Brave’s founder, I am also an average working class woman, a wife, mother and a woman with curves who took a step to make her dreams come true and I will face this challenge head-on and let everyone know that there is beauty in all our imperfections.’
Robertson thanked her sponsors Flotech Piping, J&P Projects and Chrome Carriers Richards Bay for their continued assistance.
It would be wonderful to see this plus size model in the chase for Miss SA, I hope she does well, don’ t let those thin attractive girls put you off in your quest for the crown. Good luck.