From Tomboy to princess
Avonique van Rooyen (7) was recently crowned Miss Petite South Africa - Gauteng, at a gala event in Pretoria.
She is a Laerskool Selectionpark learner who competed in the Miss Junior SA competition in March.
Avonique also finished in the top five in her age group, seven to eight years, in South Africa.
She was chosen as one of the 14 finalists in South Africa in December 2015.
Her mother, Tihani van Rooyen, says these finalists were judged by 15 judges in casual wear and interview wear.
The girls also had to portray a Disney character and Avonique chose the cheerful Jasmine.
During the judging period a personal interview was held with each participant.
“The days were long and the girls had to be at the venue at 8am each day for the proceedings of the day,” Tihani says.
”Getting all the outfits ready prior to the big event in Pretoria entailed a lot of planning.
“A business in Springs made Avonique’s evening dress and my friend had to have the other outfits ready before March 22.”
This Grade Two learner took entered her first modelling competition in 2013 and was crowned second princess in the Miss Springs pageant.
In 2014 she was crowned the first princess in the Miss Springs pageant.
She joined a modelling agency in Spring and her modelling teacher, Annette Dempsey, motivated her enter the Miss Petite SA pageant.
Avonique loves modelling, but is also part of the u-8 hockey team at her school.
She says she also likes to dance, do gymnastics, drama and art, and enjoys CMaths.
Her dream is to become a veterinarian, as she loves animals.
“I want to protect them and heal them when they are sick,” she says.
She adds that her participation in modelling has given her confidence a boost and will enable her to become actively involved in charity work.
