YWP beauty shines as KZN’s Miss India SA finalist
YELLOWWOOD Park beauty, Yajna Debideen (19), lived her modelling dream as she was crowned Miss India South Africa KZN at Durban City Hall on Saturday, 29 June.

The former New Forest High School pupil did not expect to win the title as this was her first pageant.
“I was very nervous and anxious when it was time to named the winner. When the compère asked the audience who they thought Miss India SA KZN 2013 would be, the crowd screamed my name. I was extremely overwhelmed by the response. It was so overwhelming having people that I did not know support me and scream my name. My heart started racing when I was announced as the winner. A lump grew in my throat and all my anxiety turned to excitement and immense happiness,” said Yajna.
Along with the crown, she also took home Miss Photogenic and the best talent awards. She will represent the province at Miss India South Africa at Durban City hall on Saturday, 7 September. The event will see her take to the catwalk with 15 other beauties from around the country. In preparation for the extravaganza, she is taking modelling classes, reading the newspaper and watching the news to keep abreast of current affairs. In addition to this, she is working closely with her dance instructor for the talent segment of the competition. The winner of the national pageant will win an all expenses paid trip to Auckland in New Zealand, where the lucky winner will compete for the title of Miss India Worldwide.
She is no stranger to the spotlight as she dances professionally for Shivani Kara and Eastern Moves Productions. Her resume includes Dancing with The legends Bollywood Style, Sleeping Beauty A Bollywood Fairytale, Dance with me Baby The Final, Dancing with the Legends 2, Dance with me Baby JHB, Kuch Kuch Happens and My Fair Lady in Bollywood.
As a high school pupil, she was not a sports star but she out-shined in her leadership roles. She was involved in her school’s stage production, ‘Joseph and his amazing technicolour dreamcoat’, as well as in annual Eastern evenings, drama club and as a member of the Hindu student association.
Proving she is not just beauty but brains too, Yajna is currently studying audiology at UKZN. “I would like to complete a Bachelor of Communication Pathology- Audiology or swap my course to medicine. I would also like to continue dancing and become the best that I can be. I would like to become a professional model and have a successful career in modelling.”
“What I love most about modelling is that it’s great for confidence building. I think that modelling brings out not only the beauty of the garment being modelled but the inner and outer beauty of the model as well.”
Although she may be a busy bee, she makes time to do good in the community. Her selfless works include involvement in the ECR Toy Story and making donations to Crow and St Monica’s Children’s Home. “I am currently working on two projects, I am going to join Duff’s Road Child Welfare Society this year in packing hampers for Diwali for underprivileged children. I am going to donate toys, food and have a fun day at an orphanage this Christmas Eve. In the future I would like to teach underprivileged children basic education skills including reading and writing so that there are more literate people.”

“Since being crowned Miss India South Africa KZN, people are more willing to listen to me when I talk. I often find people around campus that I do not know stare at me in a positive light.”
Yajna is grateful to everyone who had made her childhood dream a reality – her family, friends, choreographer and most importantly God.
“Winning the title was the most amazing feeling ever. I received a standing ovation. People were whistling, screaming and clapping. Seeing the smiles and joy on everyone’s faces gave me a feeling of fulfilment.”