New Miss Ballito and Miss Ballito Teen welcomed at glitzy crowning evening

For the first time, Miss Ballito and Miss Ballito Teen were crowned on the same evening at a glamorous event at Collisheen Estate last Thursday.

Karuna Eraman was named Miss Ballito and Donné Venter Miss Ballito Teen after six finalists in each category took to the runway in a final bid to impress the judges.

Founded by the Rotary Club of Zimbali 15 years ago, the Miss Ballito pageant has since raised more than R1-million for charity.

Event organiser Heidie Smith, on behalf of the Miss Ballito committee and the Rotary Club of Zimbali, thanked sponsors and the community for their continued support.

“This evening wasn’t just a celebration of a title, but of what we can achieve when our entire town comes together,” said Smith.

The crowning ceremony marked the culmination of months of community service projects and personal development programmes, during which contestants demonstrated that they had not only beauty, but also the compassion and intelligence required to wear the crowns.

Eraman said she was thrilled to hear her name announced as the winner.

“When the crown was placed, for a second everything went silent. I could hear my own heartbeat,” said Eraman.

“Then I felt my mother’s prayers, my community’s support and all the years of hard work at once. I felt like I had been chosen to serve.”

The 24-year-old LLB graduate from Tongaat participated in 24 community projects in the lead-up to the crowning. She believes charity work should be sustainable and hopes to establish initiatives that will continue long after her reign.

“I want to expand my sanitary pad drive to more underprivileged schools and support our old-age homes,” she said.

Her commitment to tackling period poverty was also evident during the judges’ question-and-answer session, when she revealed that she had already launched two projects addressing the issue and intended to make it a priority during her reign.

Venter, a 17-year-old Grade 11 pupil at Curro Salt Rock, was overcome with emotion when she was crowned.

“When I heard my name being announced, I felt so shocked, proud and grateful. It was a moment I will never forget, and I felt honoured to be given this opportunity,” said Venter.

“I knew that the title meant more than just wearing a crown. It gave me a chance to make a difference and give back to my community.”

As Miss Ballito Teen, Venter hopes to support local charities, help those in need and encourage other teenagers to become involved in their communities.

She also wants to inspire young girls to believe in themselves and celebrate others’ achievements.