CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Modern-Day Fairy Princess...

The beautiful, 25-year-old, Mbali Wendy Nkosi from Durban was crowned Miss Deaf SA 2010 during a prestigious crowning ceremony held on Saturday, October 3. Janie Erasmus from Pretoria was crowned 1st Princess followed by Lauren White from Johannesburg.

Mbali was also appointed Miss Photogenic and Lauren walked away with the title of Miss Spontaneity.  

The evening, held at First Resorts Gethlane Logde, Burgersfort, followed a challenging hands-on week for the thirteen participants at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre in Hoedspruit (HESC). During this week the girls were challenged to take part in animal feeding, food preparations, group activities and photo shoots and even worked on an amazing choreography of dancing, playing musical instruments and sign language singing– all the while being judged and accumulating marks that added to the final results of the pageant.

The Miss Deaf South Africa Beauty Pageant is a non-profitable organization owned by Gert and Narda Els, a couple who from personal experience understands the difficulties of the life of those with hearing impairment. Although the pageant has been running consecutively since 1997, the organization was officially found in 2001. The main aim of the pageant is to become a vehicle to bridge the communication gap between the deaf and hearing communities in South Africa by showcasing the undiscovered talent in our deaf communities and create life changing experiences and other opportunities for deaf and hearing impaired young girls.
This year is said to be the best pageant ever!

‘We had a dynamic team and sponsor force that impacted greatly on this year’s pageant. I believe from now on we can only go bigger and better!’ said a very pleased Willa Riekert from HESC. For the second year running Willa was the main organiser and co-ordinator of the competition. “Our vision is to empower these girls and to create opportunities for them that the hearing society often takes for granted. Apart from their hearing impairment these young girls all have dreams and incredible potential, yet often not the recourses and support systems to help them achieve their dreams.’

During her first press conference on Sunday morning, Mbali was still clearly overwhelmed. “I never expected to win the competition. Thank you to all who made this dream come true for me” she said shyly.
Mbali dreams of becoming a teacher for deaf children and aims to be a worthy successor of former Miss Deaf SA and crowned 2nd Princess Miss Deaf World, Vicky Fourie.

‘I want to visit schools and motivate deaf children and other people not to give up on their dreams. I want to inspire them with my story. I have never won anything but decided not to give up, and finally I can proudly wear the crown. I want to create an awareness of the challenges deaf and hearing impaired have to face, contribute to the lives of those who feel they cannot make it in a hearing world and show them that there are still people out there that care! Stay positive, keep going – and achieve your dreams!’