In this series, I will highlight some candidates who competed at the pageant organization I used to work for. Now this one is tricky because I was lucky enough to interact with most of the candidates (not in person because of my personal choice) but I met some around the world and interacted with many of them online too. I am biased and I found all the girls I encountered so special and will always support them in their future endeavours. Because I am doing it for other pageants, I shall do it for this one too. Continuing with a lady who placed in the top 24:  TOKYO GONZALO - GUATEMALA  The super stunning Tokyo Gonzalo represented Guatemala in Poland last year and won the sub title of Miss Influencer, which gave her a top 24 placement. She looked sensational during the swimsuit round and I really think this girl is special and I didn't have to see it on a screen to know it because I was lucky.  In February last year, I got to spend a couple of days with this lovely ...

  One of the phenomenal women who made me so proud in 2025 is the iconic Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala. Not only does she hold the titles of Miss South Africa 2010 and Miss World Africa 2011 but she is also the only South African women who represented South Africa at all of the Big 4. And even with this achievement, looking back it seems so intentional, like she was climbing the ladder, step by step. First she represented SA at Miss Earth in 2007 where she placed in the top 16, then Miss International in 2019, Miss Universe 2011 and finally Miss World 2011 where she placed in the top 7 and was as I mentioned awarded the Miss World Africa title.  In 2025, she actually stepped into a not entirely new but bigger role, pageant director for the pageant I used to work for and also Miss Universe. Proving that she doesn't shy away from a challenge, in both cases she had very limited time but she exceeded expectations by pulling it off and sending two great representatives to the internat...

In this series, I will highlight some candidates who competed at the pageant organization I used to work for. Now this one is tricky because I was lucky enough to interact with most of the candidates (not in person because of my personal choice) but I met some around the world and interacted with many of them online too. I am biased and I found all the girls I encountered so special and will always support them in their future endeavours. Because I am doing it for other pageants, I shall do it for this one too. Continuing with:  PAULA EZENDU - NIGERIA  Bold, fierce, smart and a woman that is not afraid to put in the work and voice her opinions. These are qualities I admire about the stunning Paula Ezendu, who represented Nigeria in Poland last year. I was certain that she would be a standout and, in my opinion, she was. I really loved her "Chat Episode" and I thought her message was powerful. She made an impression on me for sure.  The good thing is that Paula has plenty ...

Part 1:  Prologue Part 2:  Strength Part 3:  Service PRIMARY RESOURCE: People are a valuable resource. Wherever you are, look next to you and see greatness and opportunity and the potential for learning  For most people, pageants are synonymous with everything superficial, superfluous and shallow. I could not disagree more. Not only do I think there's a great deal to be learnt through watching them, but also from being interested in them. I also think when they are done right it could be educational on so many different levels for an audience, for competitors and for people involved. But that's only when they are done right and sadly, I would say, that with one or two exceptions, most organizations do it wrong.  One of the biggest things I take issue with is that most pageants these days brand themselves as empowerment platforms. For people like me who know a lot and who understand every part of the business, I know that it is a bold but empty branding trick. Th...

 In this series, I will highlight some candidates who competed at the pageant organization I used to work for. Now this one is tricky because I was lucky enough to interact with most of the candidates (not in person because of my personal choice) but I met some around the world and interacted with many of them online too. I am biased and I found all the girls I encountered so special and will always support them in their future endeavours. Because I am doing it for other pageants, I shall do it for this one too. Continuing with:  ESHWIN KAUR - MALAYSIA  The beautiful and intelligent Eshwin Kaur represented Malaysia in Poland last year and was one of the hottest favourites among fans and bloggers. I also thought that she would do really well and was surprised/shocked when her name was not called as one of the top 24. She has a fascinating career, her life story is inspirational and she seems like a really nice person.   Malaysia does not have a strong sash factor in m...

In this series, I will highlight some candidates who competed at the pageant organization I used to work for. Now this one is tricky because I was lucky enough to interact with most of the candidates (not in person because of my personal choice) but I met some around the world and interacted with many of them online too. I am biased and I found all the girls I encountered so special and will always support them in their future endeavours. Because I am doing it for other pageants, I shall do it for this one too. Continuing with:  Aslihan Morali - Canada  The gorgeous Turkish Canadian beauty, Aslihan Morali represented Canada in Nowy Sacz last year. When I watched the episode of the interview round of the competition (I think it was the 2nd episode) and I heard her answers, I knew that this beautiful person has so much to say, so much to offer and so much to share with the world. I was convinced that she would end up winning the entire series and secure her spot in the top 24 in...

  When I wrote my article about how my love for pageants grew because of the service element, I realised that there's a very special woman I would like to celebrate. This woman is Miss Polski 2024, Kasandra Zawal. When Gerhard and the Miss Polski Organization spoke about her, they never failed to praise her for her intelligence, charm, dedication and most of all, her authenticity. I also heard high praise about her dedication towards social causes.  It was only when I got to spend a day with Kasandra on the way to the Mister Polski final that I realised just how incredibly wonderful she is. She is the kind of person that is so genuinely lovely that spending time in her company is not just a pleasure, it's a privilege. I am not the kind of person that likes to chat to people I don't know but you just can't help it... she makes you feel comfortable... and before you could even know it, she had to endure my silly jokes. (Sorry K!)  What I love most about this phenomenal h...

In this series, I will highlight some candidates who competed at the pageant organization I used to work for. Now this one is tricky because I was lucky enough to interact with most of the candidates (not in person because of my personal choice) but I met some around the world and interacted with many of them online too. I am biased and I found all the girls I encountered so special and will always support them in their future endeavours. Because I am doing it for other pageants, I shall do it for this one too. Let's begin with:  Krysta Heath - Australia  When I saw Krysta's crowning photos, video and social media accounts, I told myself: Oh my goodness what a stunner! And then I read her profile and I was so impressed with her work and the fact that she was really a woman with such substance. On top of that, Krysta was so present from the moment she was added to the Whatsapp group and was always one of the first candidates to complete a task in the run-up to Poland. That made...

Part 1:  Prologue Part 2:  Celebration of Strength For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to help people. Not because I have to but because it is something that I really enjoy. It makes me happy, it brings meaning to my life, and it keeps my feet on the ground. This has been the case BP (before pageants) and is still the case NCAWP (Not currently affiliated with pageants) and it will hopefully be a quality that remains with me. It doesn't make me a saint or somebody that have pity for others - I have empathy and I care... I care deeply. That's the extent of it.  Like I said, this was already part of my life from before pageants but it involves pageants. I remember when it was time for a new church to be built in my hometown because the old one had become too small, the reverend mentioned the need for the community to get involved. I took it as a call to action and what did I choose to do... you guessed it, I organised a beauty pageant. Not the glamorous kind of thin...

In this special series, I would like to honor a few women who competed for the Miss USA 2025 title and while they might not have won, they certainly made the most incredible impression. So, in the spirit of that, I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will see them again - on a national stage and hopefully on an  international stage too! Concluding my 'From Miss USA 2025 to...' series is:  KENNEDY WHISENANT - MISS ALABAMA USA 2025  The gorgeous Kennedy represented Alabama at the 2025 Miss USA Pageant where she finished in the top 10. I was really happy to see her do well and as I had her as one of my 10 favourites to take the title of Miss USA.  While researching this article, I was absolutely touched by her beautiful story and I think she has so much to offer and she has been breaking barriers for years. This should not be the last we hear from her. So, if she does decide to compete again, this is where I would like to see her.  1: Miss World America: There is...

  I had the pleasure of spending three weeks with Serena back in 2022 in Nowy Sacz. She was a really good candidate and if I remember correctly, she narrowly missed the cut. But two years later, when she competed at the inaugural edition of Miss Cosmo, she placed in the top 10. It just shows, different system, different result. Also, Serena worked hard - she is a hard worker and she continues to do so. So when I met her last year this time in the Netherlands, I was really impressed by how far she has come.  When it came to Miss International, I was sure that Serena would do well. Miss International is the trickiest of all the pageants because it's really hard to understand exactly what the judges are looking for. That just made Serena's top 20 achievement so much more special. Yes, I thought she should have advanced further but the fact that she was the only European candidate in the top 20 speaks volumes.  Serena, I continue to be proud of you and cheer for you. Please k...

 PREVIOUSLY:  Prologue IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME: It is a pity that hindsight is sometimes the  best teacher but pageants represented what I saw in my mother when I was   young and the good things I wanted for her!  Hindsight is such a wonderful thing - beautiful, sweet, inspirational but also usually a bit painful without the extreme sting of the deep, overwhelming hurt that you might have felt at the time. I find people who say that you should just look ahead a bit misguided because, you see, without hindsight there can be no reflection. And reflection is something that guides you towards a deeper understanding of yourself, others, your environment, what's trivial and what's not and just life in general, I would argue.  Now, as I am writing, I am also discovering that yes I usually proclaim that this year it will be 35 years of pageants being integral to my existence. The truth, I am discovering while opening a bit of a Pandora's box, is that it actually ...

  I had the absolute honour of getting to know the lovely Cassia Sharpley, Miss Cosmo Namibia 2025, a little bit before and during her participation in the 2nd edition of Miss Cosmo. A former, Miss Namibia, she already has her own foundation and has continued to work hard on her philanthropic endeavours 'after the crown', which is rare in itself.  A minute or two into our first conversation, I remember telling her that I was blown away - not just because she is an amazing speaker but because she speaks from a place of honest and sincerity. And in this day and age, when answers still surprise you because they are refine but truthful, then you know you have someone special.  It was her commitment to her social causes that inspired the most. When I read about her plans for the first time, I was like this is something nice. But it might need a bit more. (I have listened to so many of these things that I am so used to be left wanting more.) I was totally wrong though.  Up...