Kempton Park’s Wendy van den Berg wins national pageant title

Kempton Park resident Wendy van den Berg was crowned Mrs Supranational Global Ambassador South Africa 2026 on June 20 during the national finals at Vodaworld Events.

For Van den Berg, the title represents far more than a crown.

“When my name was announced, I was completely overwhelmed with emotion,” she said.

“Even standing in the Top 8, knowing I was going to place, it still didn’t feel real. It all felt surreal. Placing in the Top 3 in my very first pageant is something I will always treasure.”

The title also sees her carry the designation of Mrs Supranational Sub-Saharan Africa, a role she says is rooted in service, leadership and creating meaningful change.

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“The title gives me the opportunity to use my voice to create meaningful impact through my Born With Purpose Foundation, inspiring others to embrace their purpose and reminding them that purpose isn’t what you do – it’s what happens to others when you do what you do,” she said.

Van den Berg entered the competition with one goal: to create a larger platform for her Born With Purpose Foundation.

“For me, it was never about wearing a crown. A crown is a responsibility. It represents service, integrity and the commitment to use your voice to make a difference.”

Although new to pageantry, she balanced the demands of the competition while running businesses, managing her NPO and operating a training academy.

“There were moments when I questioned myself, but I chose to keep showing up. This journey pushed me beyond what I thought was possible and reminded me that growth happens when you refuse to give up.”

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One of the defining moments of the competition came during the Public Choice voting.

“It was never about winning the Public Choice. I wanted to know whether people believed in my purpose.”

She remained at the top of the leaderboard from January until June, finishing with more than 66 500 votes.

“People weren’t just voting for a contestant. They were standing behind my purpose, believing in my vision and supporting the impact I want to make.”

The experience also transformed her personally.

“I learned to set healthy boundaries, protect my peace and trust my own voice. Most importantly, I discovered just how resilient I really am. This journey didn’t just prepare me for the title; it prepared me to carry the responsibility that comes with it.”

Van den Berg began modelling while still at school before pursuing a career as a corporate flight attendant, based outside South Africa for several years.

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She believes pageantry is often misunderstood.

“I think there’s a big misconception that pageantry is all about modelling. In reality, it has very little to do with modelling. The finale is simply the reward after months of community involvement, personal development, interviews and championing a cause.”

Away from the pageant stage, Van den Berg is an active member of the Kempton Park CPF Sector 2 and is involved in various community outreach projects.

One organisation particularly close to her heart is the John Wesley Children’s Care Centre.

Before the pageant, she launched the Purpose Beyond the Crown project through her Born With Purpose Foundation to show children that success is about perseverance, not titles.

In just one week, she raised more than R40 000 through sponsorships and fundraising. The funds enabled 64 children from the John Wesley Children’s Care Centre and other communities to attend the pageant finale as honoured guests.

She also arranged professional hair and make-up for the girls so they could enjoy the experience, while members of CPF Sector 2 assisted with transport and logistics.

“I had 64 children in the audience that night. Seeing them holding up boards and cheering for me meant more than any title ever could,” she said.

“For me, the evening was never about winning. It was about showing these children that every woman on that stage had overcome challenges and refused to let those challenges define her.”

She plans to continue the Purpose Beyond the Crown initiative throughout her reign by giving more children opportunities to attend inspirational events.

“I believe children hear enough people telling them they can dream. I wanted to show them what those dreams actually look like.”

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As Mrs Supranational Global Ambassador South Africa and Mrs Supranational Sub-Saharan Africa, Van den Berg hopes to expand the reach of the Born With Purpose Foundation by building partnerships with businesses, schools and community organisations.

Her long-term vision is to expand the foundation across Africa, create more educational and skills development opportunities, and inspire more women to use pageantry as a platform for personal growth and community service.

“If people remember me as someone who represented South Africa with humility, authenticity and a genuine desire to make a difference, then I will have represented my country well.”

Van den Berg thanked her sponsors, supporters, family and everyone who contributed financially or encouraged her throughout her pageant journey.

She will represent Mrs Supranational Sub-Saharan Africa on the international stage in Myanmar, Southeast Asia, in August.