KEMPTON PARK – The first Princess of Mrs South Africa competition will represent South Africa when unforeseen circumstances prevented Chene de Kock to attend the Mrs World Pageant in China.
Chantelle Swart, Mrs SA First Princess will take over the duties and honours at Mrs World Pageant after it was learnt that De Kock contracted chicken pocks and could not fulfil her duties.
‘Should for any unforeseen reason the New Mrs South Africa cannot fulfil her duties, the task will automatically fall to the 1st Princess.’
It was with a phone call early on Tuesday morning from the reigning Mrs South Africa, Chané de Kock to her first Princess Chantelle Swart which brought home the gravity of the words spoken by MC Amore Vittone at the Mrs South Africa Grand Finale held at Emperors Palace, just before her name was called out on October 5.
Reigning Mrs South Africa, Chané de Kock, woke up on Tuesday (November5) morning with a roaring temperature and spots covering her body and face. Her dream of representing South Africa at Mrs World may not come to pass. A doctor confirmed her worst fear – she had chicken pox, she was contagious and would absolutely not be able to compete at Mrs World for which she was due to depart on November 15.
Chané with her characteristic kindness and grace approached her runner-up, the gorgeous Chantelle Swart, to ask her to pick up the mantle for her. ‘Chantelle is a beautiful First Princess and I couldn’t ask anyone better to take my place and represent South Africa at Mrs World. I wish her the very best’.
Joani Johnson, Director of the Mrs SA pageant said, ‘We are so disappointed for Chané. She has put her heart and soul into preparing for Mrs World. However we are delighted for Chantelle. The calibre of Mrs South Africa’s top entrants is strong, Chantelle is beautiful and we believe she will do very well at International level. We are very grateful to Chantelle for obliging us last minute to attend Mrs World. She has the support of both Chané and the organisation. Mrs South Africa is the license holder for 4 International pageants and Chané will still get her chance to compete internationally. We wish Chané a speedy and full recovery and Chantelle a successful trip to China’.
The International Costume designed by Werner Dey and complimenting headpiece by Riana Conradie, as well as Chantelle’s evening gown by Michael Bezuidenhout, were revealed at a Press Conference held at Emperors Palace on Friday November 8.
Werner Dey’s ‘International Costume’ has been inspired by the dry, rich colours of the African soil, the flowing African Savannah’s and breath-taking Karoo landscapes. The costume is to be show-cased in China, worn with a headpiece by Riana Conradie, which is influenced by colourful African sunsets, whirlwinds, and the richness of the bounty offered by South Africa’s soil in its wealth of gold and diamonds.
Micheals Bezuidenhout’s evening gown is a dream in fresh green, with a fitted bodice and mermaid style skirt, exquisitely bejewelled, and perfectly fitted to present Chantelle gloriously.
