Second shot at the crown

BRYONI Govender is one of 30 finalists in the Miss South Africa pageant and intends to use the platform to empower other women.

This year, the Miss South Africa organisation has allowed divorced or married women, with or without children to enter. The organisation also launched a reality TV series, Crown Chasers, which gives viewers insight into how the competition is run. The top 30 were announced last week.

Govender, 26, from Morningside in Gauteng, has a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Johannesburg. She is a former trainee associate of Eversheds Sutherland, while waiting for admission to become an attorney.

She was born and brought up in Johannesburg but has roots in Durban. Her parents had moved to Johannesburg before Govender was born – they were previously from Chatsworth and Phoenix.

This is Govender’s second attempt at winning the title.

“I competed in 2018, at the age of 21. I reached the top 12 but unfortunately I was eliminated. I decided to enter again because becoming Miss South Africa has always been a dream of mine.

“My dream is still alive and one may never know their fate if they fail to try again. This year I am older, mature and ready to embody all that the Miss South Africa platform offers.”

Govender said she wanted to become a champion for women’s empowerment.

“I want to exemplify the notion that empowered women empower women by using my voice and experience of never giving up on my dreams and refusing to allow others to narrate my story.”

She said she could relate to issues such as youth unemployment in South Africa.

“My biggest disappointment was finding myself unemployed once I completed my studies. It was during the Covid-19 pandemic when the world virtually came to a stop. It was the most difficult thing trying to find employment for almost a year. I kept telling myself to never give up because I did not come this far for nothing.”

Govender said another problem affecting young people was the pressure from social media.

“The effect of negative social networking is limiting their ability to find their true identity and purpose, making them vulnerable to an array of issues, most typically mental stress.”

She said through the competition she wanted to spread her message of never giving up.

“I want South African women and girls to know that they must always follow their dreams. They will meet many people who will always have an opinion on how they should live. But they must never allow them to narrate their stories. They must determine their destination.”

Govender said the Miss South Africa organisation’s decision to include divorced and married women with or without children was the right one.

“The platform of Miss South Africa empowers women to reach their full potential and to make an impact in their community. Therefore I think that it’s wonderful that this opportunity is now available to all women.”

KwaZulu-Natal has four contestants in the Miss South Africa Top 30. They are Anelisa Nxele, 22, from Inanda; Angie Mkwanazi, 23, from Estcourt; Sibusisiwe Zwane, 20, from Shelly Beach in Port Shepstone; and Thandolwenkosi Hadebe, 22, from Woodford in Bergville. The pageant is scheduled for August. If you would like to follow Govender’s journey to the Miss SA stage, follow her on Facebook (Bryoni Natalie Govender), Instagram (@Bryoni.ng) or Twitter (Bryoni_NG).