Beauty with a purpose

Rachel Carson once said: ‘those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find resources of strength that will endure as long as life lasts’. Though she may be astonishingly beautiful, Umhlanga’s Nombuso Mnikathi is far more concerned about preserving the beauty of the earth; through her ethnic magnificence, she is making an exquisite difference. We had an audience with the Miss Earth SA regional finalist.

Nombuso’s first taste of beauty pageants was in 2012. Though she had modelled before, she was devastated when she did not make it far in the national contest. “I felt rejected. I’d been told I should model before, but I thought it wouldn’t take me far. And I knew it would have to end someday and then what?” She found her niche working in property management in Umhlanga Ridge. “I found that I was passionate about property investment and interior design. Though I’m still carving out my career path, I love what I’m doing now.”

She took a bad fall later that year during an epileptic seizure, leaving her with a spinal injury. “I couldn’t walk for a while, but on my way to work one morning I saw a poster for Miss Earth on a street pole. I found the details online but entered anyway, hoping I’d be able to walk by the time the competition began.” She impressed the judges and progressed to the top 12, but Nombuso’s journey with the pageant ended there. “I was so disappointed, because I knew my capabilities. If I had more time or resources I would have done a better job.”

Nombuso entered Miss Earth for the second time, this year, and has made it to the top 30 regional finals. During
her interview, she was asked why she had re-entered. “I feel I didn’t show what I can do, the first time. This is
my chance to go all the way.” Part of the Miss Earth campaign is to work with underprivileged communities,
establishing environmental projects. Nombuso has worked with Ethembeni School of the Visually Impaired
and Physically Disabled where she planted 10 trees sponsored by Leitch Landscapes; as well as Rietvallei
Combined School in Inchanga, teaching learners about waste and recycling. Her next project is to implement a Generation Earth club at Grosvenor Girls High School, her alma mater.

While the words ‘beauty pageant’ may conjure up images of scantily clad women, glitz and sparkle, Nombuso
insists Miss Earth does not fit into this bracket. “At our gala event, we don’t even wear bikinis. It is a beauty
pageant but ultimately, it’s not even about the girls. It’s about the change we make through this pageant.” She
recalls her previous top 12 experience being grueling, but rewarding. “You get to a point where you feel sapped,
but you know you’ve changed a life. I’d liken it to giving birth; it’s a painful process but once you’ve finished, you
are so proud. The changes we make might seem little and insignificant but generations after us will benefit.”

Nombuso believes it is imperative for young adults to be constructive. “As born frees, we don’t realise how
privileged we are. Everything is done for us, brought to us. But soon we’ll have to lead, and we need to
start now. The youth of yesteryear fought for freedom; we have our own struggles but we aren’t fighting
them. If we don’t deal with the small challenges we face now, we won’t be able to handle the bigger ones that are
coming.” Should she take the crown, Nombuso has big dreams for her reign. “I don’t think we’ve untapped the full potential Miss Earth has, in South Africa. I want to promote this cause, taking it as far as the United Nations if I can…because people need to know. The world needs to know that this earth isn’t ours – it must be preserved for the children of tomorrow.”