Back with a bang, the renowned Miss Free State pageant has the town talking after the new winners were crowned last weekend.
Despite the big impact that the Covid-19 pandemic had on the organisation for both 2020 and 2021, managing directors, Anri Powell and Yolande Koupis, have managed to pull off an event like no other. “It was hard on the girls, as they did not experience our programme in full. Nothing was the same as in 2019. We realised that we should not let the pandemic get us down and we had to stand tall,” said Koupis.
The crowing took place at the Loch Logan Waterfront this past Saturday, 10 April 2021. The newly crowned Miss Free State SA 2021, Rofhiwa Fatima Galatia, said she is very grateful for the opportunity and looks forward to her new journey. The 21-year-old is a BCom Accounting student at the University of the Free State and co-founder of Immeasurable Women.
Lanelle Hurter was crowned Miss Free State Teen SA 2021. She hopes to inspire others through this platform and to do projects where she can be the rainbow in someone else’s cloud. She is a born and bred Free State girl who is currently in matric at the C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje.
Luthando Saul was crowned Little Miss Free State, Chélyn Parkin as Junior Miss Free State and Letlotlo Mokhoke as pre-teen Miss Free State.
According to Powell and Koupis, this year’s crowning was made extra special as they received immense support from everyone involved and the adaptability of everyone stood out.
This year’s beneficiary is ENGO as the Miss Free State SA’s charity was focused on child welfare. One of the projects done by the participants was the designing of dresses out of recycled material as recycling is something the organisation feels strongly about.
The managing directors added that a totally new approach is being planned for the future and members of the community can look forward to the next crowning.
Pierce van Heerden
pierce@mahareng.co.za
