After being named Miss Junior Goddess 2023, Lavanya Govender, a Grade 9 learner from Merebank Secondary School, has her eyes fixed on scooping the title of Miss Teen Universe 2024.
After becoming a finalist in the esteemed pageant, Govender said that she felt both delighted and overwhelmed.
She said: “I couldn’t believe the news and had tears of joy. Quite honestly, it took a while for my emotions to settle in. Pageantry has always been special to me. It first started off as a hobby at the age of seven through my dad’s suggestion, encouraging me to pursue modelling since it will boost my self-confidence and also give me confidence to face the world. I then went on to compete in pageants and realised that yes, I can make a career out of this after I have won a few pageants.”
Working closely with her father, Sagren Govender, and Roshni Naicker, who currently run a non-profit organisation, Govender supports the various community-driven projects.
“One of the major campaigns we actively support is ‘Save the Dignity of Schoolgirls’, an initiative that provides support to young schoolgirls with the distribution of sanitary pads. Being affiliated with the Miss Teen Universe brand has truly inspired me and has been an incredible experience and inspiration for me. I feel excited as this will also give me an opportunity and a platform to show my support for the women empowerment campaigns I also intend to work on,” she said.
Govender said that when she was chosen as a finalist, her preparations began and she had to prioritise her school work along with her personal goals that she set for herself.
“Being a strong believer in God, I believe that the Spirit and God’s faith has indeed led me to this amazing and wonderful journey,” she said. To keep in the loop on Govender’s journey, follow her on social media by searching @lavanya_lavida_.
