She is beautiful, determined and wants to make a difference in the world.
This is Corli Carratu (29), a resident of Hazeldene and local businesswoman, who has been named as one of the 100 semi-finalists in the Mrs South Africa 2015 competition.
The young mother is married to Roberto (31) and the couple has three children, Carla (10), Liam (7) and Gian (2).
“Roberto and I have been together since I was 14 and we love spending time together and with our children,” Corli said.
She became interested in the competition last year, after she had attended a function where the current Mrs South Africa was speaking.
While she was there someone asked her why she didn’t think about entering herself.
“I liked the Mrs South Africa Facebook page and then I saw an update this year, calling for entries, so I decided to enter,” she said.
“I entered at the beginning of February and then, last Wednesday, I heard that I had been named as a semi-finalist.”
To enter, she had to submit two photographs of herself (one head-and-shoulders and one full length), as well as a motivation.
Now, the work begins for Corli.
“We need to market ourselves so that we can get votes in order to make the finals,” she said.
Corli is appealing to the community to help her realise her Mrs SA dream by liking her photo on the Facebook page: Corli Carratu Mrs South Africa Semi Finalist (please note you must like the photograph, not the post).
You can also help her get to the finals by SMSing CORLI CARRATU to 35959 (each SMS costs R3 and you can SMS as many times as you like).
The semi-finalist with the most likes and votes will automatically become a finalist.
Corli, who owns three pre-schools, has a passion for early childhood development and aims to help other early childhood development centres.
In her motivation she explained: “As a mother of three, I know how all mothers feel.
“They, too, have dreams for their children.
“The key to a better future is education.
“My aim is to help other early childhood development centres and my dream is to rehabilitate the disadvantaged children of South Africa in early childhood, for them to be able to a get proper education, as they are the future.
“Being in the early childhood development training sector, we also educate teachers, to give them the knowledge they need to be able to work with children in this sector and to be able to see the different needs in every individual child.
“This will make my dream come true – to give my time, effort and passion to these children.”
With her Creative Kids pre-schools growing from strength to strength, Corli knows what she is talking about when it comes to early childhood development.
Her first school was a small undertaking she opened in the backyard at 11 Woodkirk Street, Dinwiddie, in October 2007.
As the school grew she decided to branch out and, in 2009, bought the Smiley Kids premises in Stone Arch Estate, in Castleview.
Then, in 2013 she opened another branch of Creative Kids, in Hatfield Avenue, Dinwiddie.
She hopes to be able to help pre-schools in the informal settlements to assist in laying a firm foundation of education among the children.
Corli attended her first semi-finalist workshop last Saturday, and judging for the finals takes place on April 23 and the morning of April 24, with the gala evening and announcement of the finalists on the evening of April 24.
All this will take place at Emperors Palace.
She is in need of personal sponsors to make sure she is pageant ready for those days (and for the next two months while out-and-about).
“Lee Ann Simpson-Camacho, from Hair Matters, in Hazeldene, has kindly agreed to do my hair, but there are a number of other things I need,” Corli said.
“I need someone to sponsor hair extensions, my nails and my make-up for the event.
“Basically, people to come on board to beautify me for April 23 and 24, so I can look my best.”
Corli said she will market her sponsors on her Facebook page.
She is also in need of a cash sponsor, as she must pay R5 700 to the Mrs South Africa company, to help cover costs of being a semi-finalist.
This is due by April 16.
As part of her duties as a semi-finalist Corli is selling mugs to benefit Cansa, and she needs to sell eight tickets for the gala event on April 24.
She has also been invited to be the host at the Miss Deaf SA function, on April 18, in Centurion, and has tickets to sell for this event.
Corli’s family is very proud of her and her husband and children can’t wait to see her shine.
She originally comes from Paarl and most of her family is there, except for her sister, Annamarie (22), who lives in Midrand.
Annamarie, her brother Marco (26), mother Errie van der Merwe, stepdad Sakkie and father Kosie Gericke are thrilled for her and hope she wins the title.
When Corli is not busy with her children or her career she loves to play action netball, cycle and go to gym.
She also enjoys socialising with friends and fashion.
“I am an extremely positive person and believe that you must be yourself, as everyone else is already taken,” she said.
You can contact Corli, via Facebook, at Corli Carratu Mrs South Africa Semi Finalist; Twitter: Corlicarratu, or by email at kids@absamail.co.za.
