You do not need a pageant title to know your beauty

Following this beautiful, well-organised and very glamorous event, we saw a finalist who did not win in tears, along with some other disappointed faces.

I instinctively felt sorry for these contestants realising how you get your hopes up and become dependent of the judges’ opinions of you to establish whether or not you are good enough to earn a title such as this.

Naturally there are those who feel they have done their best and are content with simply making it to the finals and having as much fun during it as they could.

While there are still those who feel disappointed I am going to refer to the old cliché “You are unique and there is no-one else like you”.

If you have set your foundation of what you think of yourself, no opinion of others can bring you down.

Just because you did not win a beauty pageant does not mean you are a failure or not beautiful.

The true test of genuine beauty is determined through what you do in your everyday life anyway, not the title you own.

While you are in your work, study, social or spiritual environment, I can guarantee the society is not going to formulate their opinions on you with “Oh, she is Miss Benoni; she must be intelligent, smart and sweet.”

They are going to do so through the time they spend getting to know you; what you do, how hard you work, how ambitious you are, and what the nature of your heart is.

A person can have a gorgeous appearance, but it will only appeal to people for a little while, then they want to see what value you have within you.

I have been privileged to meet many people in my not-so-long lifetime, many of whom were exceptionally attractive, who carry glamorous pageant, modelling or celebrity titles.

However, I got put off by many of them once I have engaged with them socially, due to either a lack of intellect or compassion for others.

A title such as this is not everlasting and cannot bring you through life, so there is no point in depending on it for happiness.

You have abilities dreams and talents that will allow you to do unique things, if you will allow it to.

See what these are and you will feel like the bee’s knees anyway.

With this I’d like to encourage you, that if you did not make it the first time and it is really important to you, try again next year.

Something I have come to notice was that the winners of this pageant are often contestants who have returned for their second, third or even fourth time.

You can do anything if you want it enough, but always stay true to yourself, and do not let it alone determine your thoughts on yourself.

I am sure the winners of this year will do us proud, but it does not mean the rest of you, even those who did not partake in this pageant, will do us any less proud if you try.TB