A fairy tale dream is about to come true for one of Vryheid’s very own. 25-year-old Bernice Grove is a finalist in the Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant, which is a prestigious international event. She is one of nine finalists who will have the opportunity to represent South Africa on an international level. Grove relocated to Vryheid with her family seven years ago. She describes herself as an enthusiastic and positive person who will go out of her way to help anyone in need. Grove works part-time for a company by doing their administration and marketing while she also runs her own online company, Ultimate Fitness Wear. This vibrant young lady is a true ‘plaasmeisie’ who enjoys all farm activities and would give any farm boy a run for his money. She enjoys any outdoor mission, includes camping, hiking and 4×4 trails. She believes that her experiences contributed to her becoming the gracious, independent and diligent woman she is today.
Grove wants to inspire young girls in the same way she is inspired by her ‘never say die’ attitude. This small-town-girl with big aspirations saw an opportunity in modelling when she was 17 years old. She had to do a lot of photo shoots to build a portfolio and was chosen by the Desch clothing company to model their branding.
She entered a cover girl competition in 2019 for Maxim Magazine International, where she was one of the top 20 finalists and placed fifth in the world. In the same year, she attended the Miss KZN workshop, which taught her about women empowerment and self-confidence. She is also a Po10c calendar girl for the month of March, where only 12 ladies in South Africa were chosen.
Grove says the beauty of modelling is the sense of empowerment and self-confidence, and is in no sense degrading, since she has a choice in the assignments she accepts; it also generates an income if she can do it full-time and on an international level.
Grove’s message to young girls:
Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible’. You are worthy, you matter and you are capable of more than you could ever dream of. All you have to do is try. I want to leave a legacy of helping young South African women realise and nurture their own God-given talents to create opportunities and support themselves, and those around them, and take their rightful place in society. I would like to thank my Heavenly Father for everything He has blessed me with, just as He promised in Jeremiah 29:11. “I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The community is proud to have such an inspiring young woman in their midst and wish her well for the Miss Intercontinental pageant, which takes place in October.

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