‘Overwhelmed’ Angie Bryant has a heart to help abused or needy children
EAST London born beauty Angie Bryant made Buffalo City proud when she walked away with the title of Ms Africa 2018 at the Buffelspoort Resort in the North West recently.
Bryant, who was raised in East London and now lives in Johannesburg, was the first East Londoner to win the title.
“I am still very overwhelmed. I am grateful for the opportunity,” she said.
“I realise that it could have worked out differently, but God had it planned already and I am humbled by this,” Bryant said.
“This title means that I get to knock on doors and it opens a bit easier than before. It also means that the public eye is watching a bit closer.
“I am hoping this means that support from African residents will come easier. It means that I represent Africa. This is a huge responsibility, but I know that ‘the people’ are going to work with me and that this will be the best year of my life.”
Bryant scooped a handful of prizes at the awards shows before being crowned Ms Africa 2018.
She was crowned Dignity Dreams Queen for 2018, Best Model, Best Evening Wear, Compliance to tasks, Best Director’s Gift, Best Judges Gift, Best Choreographer’s Gift and Best contestant souvenir.
She joined the pageant scene two years ago, shortly after her father’s passing.
“I needed something to fill the void. I was a fashion model for most of my life with Just Models under the direction of Davianne Blignaut [in East London].
“Pageantry is a whole different ball game altogether,” she said.
“I knew about the pageant since I started doing pageants. There has always been a buzz about it in Johannesburg. I started at the bottom of the ladder with Pageants SA with the smaller title and worked my way up. Ms Africa was the final stage for me,” said Bryant.
The mother of a three-year-old daughter described the competition as tough and said that after the awards, she ruled herself out of making the top three.
”When my name was called, it came as a complete shock.
“Before the gala event started, I made peace that whatever happens will be God’s will. If I win I would praise Him and if I lose I would still praise Him because He works all things together for my good.”
The phrase ‘charity begins at home’ is lived out in the Bryant family in East London.
Last year, Bryant and her family fed the homeless on Christmas day. She has a heart especially for abused and abandoned children and babies.
“I work with Door of Hope locally and just started working with the Norman Goosen Memorial Foundation in East London, however, Dignity Dreams will take preference for at least one year,” she said.
As part of the Carnival celebration at the Buffalo Flats Sports ground next month, the newly crowned Ms Africa 2018 will be home and anyone who would like to be involved or host stalls can contact her on 072-598-1847 or Donae on 082-685-8207.
The public are invited to bring a tin of food and build a tower for the Guinness Book of Records.
This will all be donated to the Norman Goosen Memorial Foundation that feeds hundreds of hungry children weekly through a lunch box programme and soup kitchen for needy kids.
Bryant will land on flight SA475 at 4.55pm on December 1 and East Londoners are urged to go and give her a hero’s welcome.
“I have had phenomenal support on my journey as a Ms Africa finalist. I am eternally grateful. I ask that you all stick with me for another year or more. Let’s take on the world. I have had a great team of people who prepared me for the Ms Africa title. We did it. Let’s continue,” she said.
