Westridge beauty Bonita Newkirk has made the Mrs SA Top 100 and will compete in the semi-final at Emperors Palace in April.
The news was announced on Thursday March 2.
The Mrs South Africa contest is not your typical beauty pageant – it offers married South African women who have real-life careers, families, and hobbies the chance to compete for the prestigious title of Mrs South Africa.
Ms Newkirk, who grew up in Mitchell’s Plain and now lives in Milnerton, is a wife and mother of three.
When asked why she entered Mrs South Africa, she said it was to make a difference and to do this by assisting organisations with workshops and programmes.
“It is not a beauty pageant but an empowerment programme. This platform will give me the opportunity to volunteer my time and skill set to non-profits as well as giving me the opportunity to teach the children, the basics of life,” she said.
Ms Newkirk said her participation in this journey would put her on the path of empowering and mentoring people from all walks of life and create access for them.
“My struggles through life might empower someone else, which could lead to their success. This is my journey, and I leave it to the universe, to use me as an instrument to help others,” she said.
Chief executive officer of Mrs SA, Joani Johnson, said this year, they received the most entries in the history of the competition.
“Congratulations to the top 100 semi-finalists. You should be proud of yourselves. We look forward to working with you. You are about to embark on a life-changing journey,” she said.
“I do not believe in perfection, but if you are inspired to achieve excellence, in whatever you focus your talents and skills on you will become the best version of yourself.
“My mission is to inspire and lead through demonstrating how living through a lens of self-appreciation and loving oneself without preconditions can offer a renewed positive outlook on life,” she said.
Ms Newkirk said she felt blessed to be in the top 100.
“It has been surreal and incredible all at the same time. I am grateful and appreciative for this opportunity. It feels like I have achieved the impossible because I am not the most beautiful, or the tallest, I am a ’Plain, (excuse the pun) woman, however, I have the passion to excel,” she said.
Ms Newkirk said her plan was to increase environmental intelligence as the effects of climate change become more evident.
At the semi-finals, she will participate in intense judging sessions by a panel of judges comprising of Emperor’s Palace Peermont Hotel corporate affairs and corporate social investment executive Vusi Zwane, Mrs World 2016 Candice Abrahams and businesswoman in the beauty industry Unaiza Moideen, headed by principal
judge, businesswoman and former Miss South Africa, Cindy Nell-
Roberts.
Only 25 women will be selected to continue the journey as finalists for Mrs South Africa, who will be announced at the annual Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) gala dinner on Friday April 28 at the Emperor’s Palace Centre Court.
All proceeds of this event will go to the pageant’s official charity, the Cancer Association of South Africa.
To vote for Ms Newkirk, SMS BONITA NEWKIRK to 35959 or like her Facebook page.
