Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters heading to Miss Universe

According to a press release, Nel-Peters is hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Miss South Africa title holders who have triumphed on the international stage.

The 66th Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to take place on the 26th of November at a venue still to be confirmed.

The  22-year-old B. Comm graduate from Sedgefield in the Western Cape will be leaving South Africa early in November as she gets ready to represent South Africa on an international stage.

“My preparations started when I was crowned Miss South Africa 2017. Just as with the Miss South Africa platform, I understand the responsibility of being Miss Universe and the impact it has on millions of lives," she says.

She adds that she's extremely excited to represent her country and she's looking forward to wearing the name ‘South Africa’ proudly across her chest. 

"It has been 39 years since a South African wore the Miss Universe crown and I promise to dedicate and commit myself to ensure the crown will once again be on South African soil,” she says.

Nel-Peters will be assisted with preparations by two experts ahead of the competition, pageant coach and fashion stylist, Werner Wessels and Miss South Africa stylist Noreen Kajee-Vareta.

“I do a training programme similar to countries such as the Philippines, Venezuela and the US. I've been very fortunate to assist and coach Rolene Strauss in 2014, as well as Miss America for the Miss World pageant in 2015. I apply my model of training as they do in those countries and if you are serious about winning an international title, you don't enter a pageant without a pageant coach,” Wessels said.

Adds Kajee-Vareta: “We started preparations for Miss Universe as soon as Demi-Leigh was crowned Miss South Africa and look forward to revealing her outfits for the pageant closer to the time. She’s fully prepared and ready to bring the crown home to South Africa!”