EC beauties to fly flag on international stage

The Eastern Cape will be represented by two high school pupils at the Miss Teen Commonwealth pageant later this year.

Siphosihle Dumeduze from Peddie and Amber-Rayne du Randt from East London are among the 16 finalists vying for the teen title.

Commonwealth pageants create a platform for women of all ages to be charity and culture ambassadors within South Africa and in their

communities.

The triple crown consists of Miss Teen, Miss & Mrs Commonwealth. The pageants run alongside each other.

Miss Teen is open to girls between 16 and 19 years, Miss Commonwealth 20 to 24 and Mrs for 25 years and upwards.

The title holders get involved in charitable causes and uphold the aims and objectives of the Commonwealth, such as racial harmony, poverty eradication and cultural cohesion.

Siphosihle, a pupil at Nathaniel Palma High School, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Clarendon High School pupil Du Randt, 17, said she initially wanted to enter Miss Teen South Africa but found the Commonwealth pageant more appealing.

“I want to pursue a career in the media, so I thought entering a pageant would be the best way to get myself out there. But I particularly like this pageant because it is not just about beauty but beauty with a purpose. I liked the fact that the pageant is used to help people,” Du Randt said.

She has adopted a local NGO called Catch as her charity and is assisting them with fundraising.

“I collect donations for them from local businesses. I am

also running two raffle competitions, and in the one raffle the winner will share the profits with Catch.

“I am also planning a fund-

raising event but I have to focus on exams first,” she said.

Du Randt said if she wins, she would use the opportunity to educate her peers about giving their time to help uplift their communities.

To vote for them sms “Siphosihle Dumeduze” or “Amber-Rayne du Randt” to 35554.  — ziphon@dispatch.co.za