Durban educator, 25-year-old Andrea Morrison is set to shine on the Miss South Africa Stage as one of the top 30 contestants in the race for the coveted crown.
Morrison said she was driven to the platform because of what it stands for, as a constant reminder that when a woman is determined, she can achieve anything. “What previous Miss South Africa title holders were able to accomplish inspired me to work towards my purpose and intention of contributing positively to the world and becoming a problem solver as well as a game changer.”
As an educator, Morrison spends her days guiding her learners by motivating and challenging them to be their best, inside and outside the classroom. She encourages kindness among them and authenticity
, motivating the youngsters to help those who are in need.
Morrison has also been involved in fundraising for underprivileged learners; donating clothes, shoes, blankets, and food and preparing them for the real world. As a finalist in the prestigious competition, Morrison holds her ‘why’ in high regard as she believes that knowing one’s intention can keep a person going, especially when preparing for the Miss SA pageant.
“My mom Abegail always taught me to be humble and work hard for everything that I want. She is determined and resilient and enjoys working. I believe that a woman needs to possess determination, humility, and confidence to make a notable difference in the world. One of my female role models is Shudu Musida, because she is inspiring, relatable, and beautiful. She brought a lot of attention to the mental health issues in the country which is one of the main challenges people are facing. She’s an author of a children’s book and I look up to her because it’s something I intend on doing one day,” said Morrison.
She also lists the current Miss SA, Natasha Joubert, among the women who inspire her. “Natasha Joubert, who taught me how to believe in myself and that a no does not mean never. Also, it’s okay to reinvent yourself and never give up, work hard for what you want. My high school English teacher Dr Rabichund, is intelligent, elegant, and graceful and they inspired me to be a teacher. My mom, because she’s graceful and determined and works hard for what she wants and finally my sister, who is kind and generous and goes out of her way to help others.”
Her message to young girls is to not allow people to project their limitations, “Block out the noise and know there will always be challenges. Find joy in every day and most importantly always ask yourself “why” and know your purpose,” said Morrison.
