Why Pageants Became the Love of My Life - PROLOGUE

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THE WARMEST: Zozi blew me away because she was the warmest and 

most naturally charasmatic reigning Miss Universe I met


The Beauty of How a Moment Can Last a Lifetime 

I remember the first time I "saw" a pageant. The year was 1987. The channel was TV1 if memory serves me and I only got a brief glimpse of something that caught my attention immediately and left such a huge impression that it still remains with me to this day. It was the first ever (I found out later) live broadcast of Miss South Africa and I could only take in something that spoke to me for probably less than a couple of minutes before the sitter changed the channel. But it STUCK and ended become perhaps the greatest love of my life. 


A MOMENT IN TIME: The year was 1987,  I don't remember much 
but I remember a few glimpses of the middle of the show and 
I can still see it so clearly. I definitely remember the purple dress. 

Over the years, people have found this interest amusing, bizarre, fascinating, ridiculous, cool, infuriating, inspirational... you name it. People have laughed in my face, people have had genuine interest, people have faked interest but most often people have wondered WHY on earth are you so interested in these things. I used to be really embarrassed about this love and I used to start with...  well, you will probably laugh or you would think this is a bit silly BUT... 

I would be lying if I said it was not just about an appreciation of beauty - the beauty of women, the beauty of fashion, the beauty of a huge spectacle, the beauty of bright lights and big dreams. But it always ran a bit deeper than that for me. People come, people go but this love has stayed with me for as long as I can remember. As you grow older, you stop caring what people think. I have had to make peace with things that are said about me, written about me, discussed about me and more painfully recently things that were done to me. But the love in its original form has stayed with me. 

CLAPPER: As much as I love to create, I also love to clap
because I love supporting good people 


And even despite all the trauma, trials, tribulations and TREACHERY, I can't freaking help it. Pageants (maybe not necessarily always in their exploitative nature that has become so damn obvious and in your face) remain my happy place and my safe space. Not because of the current state of them, not because of most people behind the scenes, not because of all the scheming behind the scenes but because of what it represents to me, the road I have walked and the power they hold. 

INSPIRATIONAL: Loved Bassie since she was crowned 
and I am currently loving her book

I am going to try and explain this, so that no one (or the one person that might) will ever have to wonder.  And to be honest, I am currently reading Basetsana Kumalo's book 'My Journey of Hope', which inspired me because when so many people have spoken for you, about you or spread rumours about you in public spaces, why should you not leave your version behind. And then in the end, your footprints remain and the rest can be up to court of public perception and personal interaction. :) 


COMING UP NEXT: Why Pageants Became the Love of My Life - A Celebration of Strength 




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