Eldorado Park crowns new Mr and Miss pageant winners

The Mr and Miss Eldorado Park beauty pageant crowned the new king and queens during its sixth annual competition at the Don Mateman Hall, Ext 5, Eldorado Park, on 6 September.

Twenty-four contestants from Eldos and surrounding areas, like Freedom Park and Kliptown, participated.

The new Miss Eldorado Park is Liam Smith (21), while Amaarah Sahabodien (21) is Mrs Eldorado Park, followed by Miss Teen, Vunene Ngwaila (15), and Mr Eldorado Park, Cole Ganchi (16).

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Smith said her success had boosted her confidence and made her fearless, “To me, success is not just about achievements and recognition but about turning pain into purpose.”

She said she will use her title to advocate for and support the youth’s involvement in sports and extracurricular activities.

“I believe that participating in these activities instils discipline, respect and builds character.”

Sahabodien said winning the title was a dream come true after competing for the second time, “I want to show young girls that with support and determination, you can achieve anything,” she said.

Her campaign encourages social media positivity and fortitude in the face of adversity. She intends to host workshops and establish safe spaces for young people to combat gangsterism and school dropouts.

Ganchi, a learner at Lancea Vale Secondary School, said he entered to break stereotypes and show that boys can also take part in pageants.

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Drawing from his experience with bullying, Cole plans to use his platform to raise awareness about bullying, depression, gangsterism and school dropout rates.

“I want to help young people make better choices and remind them that there are positive paths to follow,” he added.

Ngwaila from Ext 1, Chiawelo, also a learner at Willow Crescent Secondary School, said entering the Miss Teen category for the first time in Eldorado Park was an eye-opener, “People say negative things about Eldos, but I met amazing people with good vibes,” she said.

As part of the competition, she joined a noodle drive to support families in need and runs her pad donation project for young girls.

The co-founders of Mr and Miss Eldorado Park (MMEP), Naeema Pedro and Nazli Isaacs, said the event was a success despite challenges with ticket sales.

“The pair funds the event from their pockets and tries to recover costs through ticket sales, which Pedro admitted is often “wishful thinking”.

Pedro explained that most attendees are family members of the contestants and the organisers.

“To ensure the contestants do not walk into an empty hall after all the months of work, we invite about 100 people for free,” she noted.

She said only 16 tickets had been sold three weeks before the show, with more bought during the final week.

Several sponsors contributed prizes for the contestants because the organisers found it easier to request product-based sponsorships rather than cash. Shay’s Body Shop provided massages as part of the prize offerings, while Nice Eyes donated two pairs of sunglasses.

A private family sponsored a R10 000 bursary for the Miss Eldorado Park winner to help with her education.

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Toyota donated goodie bags, and the Cutthroat Barbershop offered complimentary haircuts.

The goal of the MMEP is to empower participants by helping them find their voices, purpose and confidence.

Pedro said the programme teaches community responsibility through initiatives such as the noodle drive, where contestants collect and distribute food to vulnerable areas, including Ext 8 and surrounding flats.

“In addition, we teach them modelling basics such as walking in heels, stage presence, and interview preparation. Contestants learn life skills that go beyond the pageant,” she said.