Tongaat’s own Karuna Eraman has been crowned Miss Ballito at a spectacular event held at Collisheen Estate in Ballito.
The 24-year-old Buffelsdale resident is no stranger to the pageant world, having previously held the titles of Miss Durban 2023 and Teen Miss Phoenix 2016. She was also named first princess and Miss Charity at Zee TV Miss India South Africa 2024. Eraman holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of South Africa, a black belt in Shotokan Karate and has long been involved in community service and outreach initiatives.
She said: “I am ecstatic to have earned this crown as it feels I have been chosen to serve my community. The crowning gala was an absolute dream, and I couldn’t have done it without the endless love and support from my loved ones, my amazing sponsors, and this incredible community. Here’s to a year of making a meaningful difference, serving Ballito, and embracing every moment of this journey.”
More than a traditional beauty pageant, Miss Ballito is a community-focused youth empowerment, mentorship and fundraising initiative founded by the Rotary Club of Zimbali in 2011. The programme focuses on inner beauty, personal development and social responsibility, providing a platform for young women to become active ambassadors and role models for the North Coast community.
Finalists participate in a comprehensive development programme featuring workshops and training sessions on topics such as financial management, life coaching, social media etiquette, self-defence, nutrition and health.
The event is preceded by months of dedicated community upliftment projects. Finalists participate in local outreach initiatives, including clothing drives, mental health advocacy and anti-gender-based violence campaigns.
During her campaign, Eraman participated in 24 community projects, including donating chairs and tables to Thabi’s Crèche, volunteering with the Othongathi Outreach Foundation’s Sunday mass-feeding programmes and providing essential sanitary products to young women at Buffelsdale Secondary School through her pad drive.
She said: “Community related projects are the real work that let us care for the community, during my reign I would like to place a focus on developing sustainable community projects that will persist long after the crown has passed. I am hoping to find support from members of our community and local businesses to help make these projects a reality.”
Over the years, the initiative has raised more than R1 million for local causes.
