Taegan takes on pageant for charity

LOCAL lass, 12 year-old Highway College pupil, Taegan Le Roux, is not just a pretty face but a girl on a mission to help those less fortunate.

The Grade 6 pupil will be competing for the non-profit organisation, Role Models Foundation’s Miss KZN Pre-teen title in the KZN finals on 21 March at Africa Whispers in Waterfall.

As part of being chosen as a finalist for the KZN leg of the competition, Taegan was given the challenge to collect food, clothes, stationery and funds for a project of the foundation, Imfundo Educare Project. The project endeavours to give children, whose parents cannot afford pre-school facilities, the opportunity to have a better start in life so that they do not start their school career off at a disadvantage.

So far the New Germany beauty has collected a box of clothing, some non-perishable foods, funds and stationery, but added she wanted to collect a lot more to help those in need.

“It’s a rewarding feeling knowing that I am helping so many children,” she said.

If she wins the KZN leg of the competition, she will go on to compete in the Miss Mzansi Africa Role Model pageant later this year. She also hopes to collect votes in the public choice award. If you would like to vote for Taegan, SMS ‘MKZN-TaeganLeRoux’ to 47611. SMSes cost R3. A portion of the SMS costs will be donated to the foundation.

Taegan’s biggest dream is to become Miss World, and said she wanted to be a voice for children who can’t speak for themselves.

When asked about her fans, the modest youngster said: “My biggest fan is by far my seven-year-old brother, Connor. But my friends have also been great. They’re very excited and have been very supportive. The teachers at my school and the pupils’ parents have also been very supportive, as have my parents, grandparents and family.”

Taegan’s mother, Roselle, said her modelling school, La Bella Models, which Taegan only joined in August last year, has been hard at work preparing her for the contest: “She was four when she won her first title, and she has really grown from strength to strength since.”

If you would like to make a donation, e-mail waynelr@polka.co.za or drop off donations at Highway College. Tax certificates are available on request. Tickets to attend the pageant are available from Computicket at R120 a person.