LAVANYA Levida Govender (17) from Merebank has made her community and the nation proud by representing South Africa at the prestigious Miss Teenager Universe international pageant in Kuta, Indonesia. For Lavanya, standing as the face of the rainbow nation on such a global stage was a lifelong dream come true.

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With confidence, poise and a desire to inspire young women, she competed against top contestants from around the world. The competition was fierce, but Lavanya’s tenacity and presence shone through and she was crowned Miss Teenager Universe Continent. She also received the Confidence Certification award, an indication of how confident she was throughout the competition.

Recalling her experience, Lavanya described the competition as an emotional ride.

“Competing in an international pageant of this level was a mixture of emotions and feelings as you never know what to expect and what the results would be. I would be lying if I said I was not nervous, but I have been taught and trained to handle immense pressure and give off my best performance. Having my country and family support me was all that I needed to carry myself through these moments,” she said.

Lavanya also credited her composure to her spirituality and the backing of her family and other South Africans.

“Whenever I felt like I was really tensed, I silently prayed and asked God to allow me to rise above and shine. The strength indeed has really come from my prayer and I’m thankful to our supreme God for making this winning a victory not only for me but for my fellow extended South African families,” she shared.

With her latest achievement, Lavanya vows to continue to use her platform to empower women and children. She plans to sponsor workshops and campaigns working on skill development programmes for underprivileged youths. As the current global ambassador for Miss Teenager Universe, she also plans to establish relationships and promote South Africa as a destination of must-visit tourist attractions.

“We have such amazing sceneries, wonderful beaches and also some of the best cuisines you can ever want. I wish to show the world that South Africa is definitely an exotic landmark to pen down on your diary,” she said.

With Lavanya’s enthusiasm and commitment to making the world a better place, she said this is just the beginning of her pageantry career and she hopes to go on to make a real difference.

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