{"id":182838,"date":"2018-07-20T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-20T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/182838\/elsburg-resident-to-take-part-in-prestigious-pageant\/"},"modified":"2018-07-20T08:47:53","modified_gmt":"2018-07-20T06:47:53","slug":"elsburg-resident-to-take-part-in-prestigious-pageant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/lifestyle-news\/entertainment-news\/2018\/07\/20\/elsburg-resident-to-take-part-in-prestigious-pageant\/","title":{"rendered":"Elsburg resident to take part in prestigious pageant"},"content":{"rendered":"

The search for Mr South Africa 2018 recently kicked-off and an unassuming Elsburg resident has made the cut.<\/p>\n

One needs to be 21 years of age and older to be an eligible contestant, but Eugene Barnard has somehow bypassed this rule.<\/p>

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Twenty-year-old Eugene, who joined the glitz-and-glamour life of pageantry in nursery school, will represent Germiston in the prestigious event.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think my work in previous competitions proved to the panel that I could be a strong contestant in this competition,\u201d said Eugene.<\/p>

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Eugene, who attended Dinky Dolly Nursery School in his toddler days, credits the owner of the school, Petra Breytenbach, as the person who introduced him to modelling competitions.<\/p>\n

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Eugene Barnard\u2019s mementos of past competitions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u201cShe not only introduced me to the wonderful world of drama and pageantry, but she assisted me in all my competitions even when I went off to primary school,\u201d said Eugene.<\/p>\n

The former Laerskool Elsburg and Ho\u00ebrskool Elsburg learner is now ready to put Elsburg on the map in the world of modelling.<\/p>\n

The modelling genes don\u2019t fall far from the tree in the Barnard household.<\/p>\n

His mother Marietjie has always loved beauty pageants and dressing up, so when Eugene started his modelling career his family gave him their full support.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn high school, I took part in the school\u2019s E-Factor competition on two occasions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won Mr Photogenic in the 2016 Mr and Miss Elsie competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was then given the opportunity to participate in the 2017 Beauty Meets Power SA where I won in the photogenic category becoming Mr Face of Beauty Meets Power.<\/p>\n

With a soft heart for animals and having seen the effects of cancer, Eugene aspires to bring about awareness to animal cruelty and local hospices who treat cancer patients.<\/p>\n

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Head to Facebook and like Eugene Barnard\u2019s page, Eugene Barnard, follow him on Twitter @eugenebarnard9 and on Instagram @eugenebarnard53.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u201cMy grandmother died from cancer and to see someone you love wither away because of this illness is not an easy thing to go through.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am going to use my voice in the competition to reintroduce the spirit of charity in our community by giving back to the local SPCA, spending time with animals and uplifting the community,\u201d said Eugene.<\/p>\n

Eugene who wasn\u2019t very popular in school also aims to encourage young boys to be true to themselves at all times.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do not have to be popular or be the sports star in high school.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just need to be yourself. Remember what matters is what\u2019s on the inside, not what people see on the outside,\u201d said Eugene.<\/p>\n