Representing uMhlanga on the national stage, Abigail Van Emmenis shone brightly and emerged as second runner-up at the recent Miss Grand South Africa pageant. The finals took place at the Heartfelt Arena, Pretoria, on Saturday, 20 June.
A jubilant Van Emmenis thanked friends, family and those who supported her. Reflecting on her crowning moment, she said: “I knew I worked hard for this and my calling is far higher. Coming in first was not my aim. My aim was to be the queen of people’s hearts, rather than a queen of a crown.”
Speaking about her modelling journey, she said: “In 2023, my mother entered me for my first pageant. I never used to be a beauty queen and I knew nothing about pageants. I quickly learnt my purpose in life and why I do pageantry. It is to give to those who do not have and to have a platform to speak up for those who feel voiceless.”
For her finalist project, Van Emmenis and the other finalists fed more than 100 people in a village close to Shaka’s Kraal. She said it was a very proud moment as she stepped out of home territory and represented not only uMhlanga but KwaZulu-Natal, which was “a big blessing.” She concluded by thanking everyone and said she will soon start a Back-A-Buddy campaign for sponsorship as she intends to represent South Africa at next year’s Miss Aura International, which takes place in May in Turkey.
