The Mrs Grand SA beauty pageant has come around once again, and East London philanthropist, Lemeac Bezuidenhout, believes that she has what it takes to win the grand title.
The 34-year-old beauty queen is a top 20 finalist and has dedicated herself to creating a platform to create a positive impact in the community.
She said: “Beauty pageants have always fascinated me, and I believe they hold the power to uplift women of all ages, allowing them to grow into the individuals they aspire to be.
“Participating in Mrs Grand SA has been a transformative experience, reawakening dormant passions within me.
“I have deep appreciation for the platform because it has provided me with the opportunity to make a positive impact on my community.”
Unlike other pageants, the Mrs Grand SA competition allows married, widowed and divorced women to enter.
It challenges sociocultural stereotypes, celebrates inclusivity and fosters a supportive community.
In addition to her charitable endeavours, Bezuidenhout is also an author with two published educational works.
“I have a deep inspiration and extraordinary motivation that led me to write two workbooks for children, as part of my journey to the Mrs Grand SA finals.
“The primary workbook is titled Empowering Kids and aims to inspire and empower young minds. The high school workbook is titled Change Your Paradigm and seeks to shift mindsets and encourage personal growth.
“I wanted to do something truly impactful and unique, an endeavour that hadn’t been done before.
“My inspiration stemmed from a firm belief in the power of education as a tool for empowerment,” Bezuidenhout said.
As part of the next step in the competition, Bezuidenhout will be hosting a high tea fundraiser for the Emerge Foundation, an organisation that aims to make a positive difference to the lives of women and children through education and healthcare.
Additionally, she will also be organising a series of events including a make-up masterclass for younger pageant contestants, and cooking classes by her chef husband, Fazel.
The official pageant will take place in October this year in Johannesburg.
