5 Miss South Africa pageant myths debunked

2018-05-15 11:51

MISS SOUTH AFRICA DEMI-LEIGH NEL-PETERS. (PHOTO: SUPPLIED)

The Miss South Africa pageant is just around the corner, and who better to debunk a few myths than Miss South Africa creative consultant, Werner Wessels.

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Werner has spent years training pageant queens, including Rolene Strauss and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters.

Here are five myths that he helped us put to rest:

MYTH 1: THE WINNER IS ALREADY DECIDED LONG BEFORE THE BIG NIGHT

If you’re under the impression that beauty pageants are rigged, know that you are not the only person who has formed this opinion.

The 2017 edition of the Miss SA pageant had many wondering if the winner was already already decided on prior to the main event, but according to Werner, that’s not how it works.

"That is not the case at all. It is a competition until the very end," he tells us. 

MYTH 2: THERE IS A SET CRITERIA FOR THE TYPE OF GIRL THAT THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR

Many people believe that there is some type of formula for the way the winner is chosen.

Werner says judges are not told to look for any specific girl: "The judges are told to look for the girl that will best represent the brand. And this counts for any pageant." 

MYTH 3: BEAUTY PAGEANTS ARE JUST SUPERFICIAL

"Another myth that I would like to debunk is that girls are just doing it so that they can wear a pretty dress and a crown," he says.

"I think most girls enter it because they understand the platform that it’s able to give them. They know that it’s not about being pretty and glamorous all the time. They know that it’s hard work. Miss South Africa is a 24/7 job," he adds.

MYTH 4: WEAR THIS COLOUR AND YOU WILL WIN

According to beauty pageant superstition, certain colours are associated with winning. Werner points out that many believe wearing a white dress at Miss South Africa will mean that luck is on your side, while a pink dress for Miss World will almost certainly help you get that crown.

But, unfortunately these are just myths. "White is a great colour because it's wonderful on stage, and it's clean and it puts the focus back on the girl. That is one of the reasons why I think white is very successful," Werner explains.

And about that pink dress at Miss World he says that, even though four of the winners over the last six years have worn pink, there's really no truth to that either.

MYTH 5: KEEP YOUR HANDS ON TOP

"The girls say that if they get to the final two and they have to hold hands with one another that the girl whose hands are on top is the one that wins," Werner explains this superstition. "Now 90 percent of the time that is true, but I think it really is just a coincidence."

The 60th Miss South Africa pageant takes place on Sunday, 27 May where one of 12 contestants will be crowned the next Miss South Africa.

https://www.channel24.co.za/The-Juice/News/5-miss-south-africa-pageant-myths-debunked-20180515