\u201cI have learnt so much and had my eyes and heart opened through this amazing experience,\u201d said Primrose East’s Wiandri van Vuuren (16).<\/p>\n
Wiandri is talking about her experiences in this year\u2019s Lady Gracious SA competition<\/a>.<\/p> The competition has three categories, namely Miss\/Mrs Lady Gracious, Miss Lady Gracious Teen and Sir Gracious (man of God), and aims to inspire women and men to live out their full potential and fulfil their dreams.<\/p>\n The competition’s organiser, Suret Str\u00f6h, has been involved in Lady Gracious SA for six years.<\/p> \u201cLady Gracious SA is not about a beautiful face and thin body, it is about appreciating what is inside someone and what they give back to charity,\u201d Suret said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are invested in everyone who is involved in the competition and aim to build up their self-esteem, so that they know they can reach their dreams.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are saying you can do anything you set your mind to.\u201d<\/p>\n Wiandri first heard about the competition from a friend and thought it would be a normal pageant.<\/p>\n \u201cI was wrong though.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like nothing I have ever experienced before,\u201d Wiandri said.<\/p>\n One of the most memorable moments in Lady Gracious SA was the team building weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cI arrived knowing no one and left feeling so close to everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cI also feel closer to God,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Bianca Birnie, 2014 Lady Gracious winner, was one of the speakers at the team building weekend and explained how moving some of the sessions became.<\/p>\n \u201cYou come away having felt a lot of emotions you didn\u2019t expect to feel, as well as feeling closer to God.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it also taught the girls to just enjoy who they are, which I believe is very important for teenagers,\u201d Bianca said.<\/p>\n Bianca entered Lady Gracious SA to do something for herself and is very glad she did.<\/p>\n \u201cThe charity work has been amazing.<\/p>\n \u201cGiving back has evoked so many powerful emotions,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n \u201cI will be sad to give up my crown.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I will still continue my charity work.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of the Lady Gracious SA, the finalists are asked to raise funds for a single cause chosen at the start of the competition.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to encourage the girls to get out of their comfort zone and raise the money on their own, not just ask their parents,\u201d explained Suret.<\/p>\n This year finalists will be raising funds to donate to Arthur Gough (15) who has cerebral palsy.<\/p>\n \u201cDonations will not just go to Arthur but to his family as well.<\/p>\n \u201cI think sometimes we forget that the family also needs support,\u201d Suret said.<\/p>\n Wiandri has enjoyed the hands-on approach that the charity project has offered and has raised funds in various ways including a Mother and Daughter Day, and an evening icing and decorating cupcakes.<\/p>\n When asked what winning the title would mean to her, Wiandri said, \u201cThe title is not the most important, the experience I had is, but if I do win, I will be honoured to use the opportunity given to me to help people and share my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Winners will be announced at the Lady Gracious SA gala dinner held at Summer Place in Boksburg on October 31.<\/p>\n The finalist’a dresses for the evening will be sponsored by Denise Lloyd and Linda Broodruk from Exclusive Designs.<\/p>\n Other articles you may be interested in:<\/strong><\/p>\n Vesna and Tatijana put their best foot forward for childhood cancer<\/a><\/p>\n