Miss World SA finalists made to face their insecurities at boot camp

Miss World South Africa finalists were made to face their insecurities and armed with tools to overcome them at their weeklong boot camp in Rustenburg.

This ranks among the highlights of the boot camp which ends on Thursday for six of the ten participants that made the list of finalists for the pageant which takes place in October.

Most of the contestants cited a session where they were made to speak about their insecurities as one of the highlights of the camp.

One of the finalists, Neo Nkhumane, said the boot camp has been “transformational in the sense that I've allowed myself to finally open up to change and receiving feedback, which was very difficult to me”.

“We had a session with Sibu [Sibulele Dyi, a stylist for Miss World SA] where we spoke about our insecurities which is something that is very hard to do. You know speaking about your insecurities in front of people that you've only known for 48 hours,” Nkhumane said.

She said though it was hard at first, the session was her favourite part of the camp.

“It was my favourite session simply because I spoke about something I never thought I would speak about,” Nkhumane said.

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Nkhumane's views on this session were echoed by other finalists such as Zoalize Janse van Rensburg, Amber Marais, Jesmika Singh, Thembelihle Mnguni, Nande Mabala and Romanda Hombir.

“She [Dyi] asked us about our lives growing up, a little bit about our insecurities, and that offered a perfect platform to open up. I think it was the best moment to showcase our authenticity and be OK with having a vulnerable moment within this industry,” Janse van Rensburg said.

Dyi told TimesLIVE Premium that her session was meant to “dismantle and break down all things” that would block the finalists from being the best possible versions of themselves and how they presented themselves.

“We looked at insecurities and things that hold us back from attaining the things that we want to attain. It could be a combination, both body figures and internal which is what happens ... it might be that I feel my feet are too big or I don't perceive myself as intelligent enough,” Dyi said.

She said the session was also meant to make the finalists understand that it was normal to feel insecure and that they were not alone.

“If you don't believe that you'll ever get to be that woman [that you want to be] you won't present yourself in that manner everyday,” Dyi said.

The ladies were put through different classes and exercises to ensure they are ready for their big pageant day in October.

Rea Malatji, who is one of the judges, delivered several sessions, including one on grounding, which was also listed as one of the highlights by several finalists. She said the session is to allow the finalists to understand their personal spaces and how their minds worked with their physical and social aspects.

“The purpose of the grounding session is to check-in. A lot of people forget to do that ... it's about the personal choice of saying 'I'm not OK in my mind, I need my space' or 'my body is not feeling OK’,” Malatji said.

She said her session was meant to teach them to “check in with self and allow them to release emotion”.

Finalist Mabala said: “For me the grounding session ... it has emphasised that you don't know all of your capabilities.”

Reigning Miss World South Africa Claude Mashego also visited the boot camp to share her lessons and give advice to those aiming to follow in her footsteps.

Mashego told TimesLIVE Premium that the reign is very short and that some of the finalists had plans that may struggle to bring their Beauty with Purpose initiatives to life in such a short space of time.

Mashego told them that the camp ahead of the Miss World pageant would be ten times what they were experiencing at this boot camp.

“I told them they need to think about legacy because the journey is very short, it looks like it's long [but] you only have a year and there's not enough time to do everything you want to do,” Mashego said.

She said the great ambitions that the 2024 finalists have may not be achievable in the time period that the winner will have.

Mashego said the pageant was more “of a stepping stone where you build networks that you will need in the future”.

She also advised them to take criticism to heart and work on the weaknesses that judges have raised.

“This [camp] is preparation, and they should take it as such. I am proud of how far we came [as team Miss World South Africa], as last year was all about baby steps,” Mashego said.

The finalists also participated in dance challenges, which were overseen by top choreographer and pageantry coach Michael Petr from Czechia.

“I like what Team Miss World South Africa has chosen [as the top ten]. They're great finalists who are talented and have a lot of charisma,” Petr said.