Face of South Africa 2020 winner does Kempton proud

“Real beauty is not just about glamour and tiaras, it is more about being beautiful from the inside.”

This is according to Van Riebeeck Park teen, Cayla van Eeden (16), as she reflected over a successful pageant year.

Despite Covid-19 yielding challenges, Cayla bagged a number of titles, such as Miss Junior Teen South Africa, Face of South Africa’s overall winner, Miss Junior Teen Universe SA and Senior Miss Charity SA.

For Cayla, a valuable characteristic to be taken from her runway rendezvous is confidence.

“I’ve learned to be bold enough to use my voice and brave enough to listen to my heart.”

The Hoërskool Jeugland learner shared how Miss Junior Teen SA and Senior Miss Charity SA are recognisable titles in pageantry.

“My greatest passion is helping and caring for others. I love doing charity work. It has taught me from a young age to do everything with love without expecting anything in return. At the end of the day it is not about what you have, it’s about who you lifted up, who you’ve made better and what you have given back”.

Cayla’s mom, Elize, said her daughter is involved in a number of charity projects.

ALSO READ:

Community ensures couple’s happily ever after

“This ranges from hospital visits, volunteering at children’s homes, old age homes and shelters. She also visits schools in informal settlements where she addresses learners on key topics like drug abuse, teenage pregnancies and how to be assertive.”

Her biggest project was raising funds to provide young girls and women from disadvantaged communities with washable sanitary wear.

Evidently, Cayla has a work-driven personality that she infuses with her sense of adventure.

“Cayla does very well in her academics, even with two additional subjects in alpha mathematics and business studies. She is a hard worker, committed and her school work is very important to her,” Elize vouched.

Cayla said she is not too active in school-related activities or hobbies such as sport or culture.

“I don’t have any hobbies but I enjoy adventure sport. I’ve done skydiving, bungee jumping and parasailing. I prefer to spend my time doing charity and community work.”

But would her pageantry expertise lead her to the grand title of Miss SA one day?

“A lot of people have asked me whether I want to enter Miss South Africa when I’m older and to be honest, I’m not sure. I want to focus on my studies after school first.”

She boldly aspires to be a doctor, be it a pediatrician or a neonatologist.

To any girl or boy who wishes to follow the footsteps from the likes of Cayla, her advice reads: “Never, ever give up. Learn from your mistakes and be positive, chase your dreams and believe in yourself.

“Remember, you create beauty with your attitude, your behaviour and your actions. Always be humble, no matter what title or crown you wear.”

Cayla will be representing South Africa at the Miss Universe Junior pageant in Turkey next year.

Her mom said competing internationally is nothing new to Cayla. After all, she also won Miss Teen World and Photo Model of the World in 2018.

Also follow us on: