Miss South Africa 2015 Liesl Laurie (24) had a feeling that the crown was going to be hers. Laurie was crowned Miss SA at the Sun City Superbowl on Sunday.
Speaking to City Press, the humble young woman from Eldorado Park in Johannesburg said: “I dreamed and I prayed about it. I’ve always believed that whatever is for me, would be for me.”
Laurie’s biggest competitors were first princess Refilwe Mthimunye from Bronkhorstspruit and second princess Ntsiki Mkhize from the Kliprivier in the Midvaal. She said both her princesses were her roommates and she “knew them” too well.
“I spent most of my time with them. Both of them have different personalities. Ntsiki is a hard worker and Refilwe’s smile lights up the room,” she said.
Laurie described herself as elegant, confident and determined.
Asked why she thinks the judges chose her out of the other 11 girls, she said: “I was myself throughout the competition. I was the same girl since the day I entered the Miss SA competition in October. I never tried to be someone else.”
Laurie added that all the finalists lived like a reigning Miss SA while they were preparing themselves for the competition.
She admitted that yesterday she was nervous and scared when she answered the question from the judging panel.
“I don’t think I did answer the question to my level best. But this has proven that the competition is not based on one question but a journey,” she said.
Laurie said the judges spent time with the contestants, monitoring them for months and they knew each and every one of them.
“Yesterday they just wanted to see our confidence on camera and how we carry ourselves in front the audience,” she said.
To the 11 other finalists, she said all the girls “are also Miss SA”, but there could be only one ambassador who would represent the country.
“I would also like to salute the girls for walking with me through this journey and everyone who helped me to grow in the competition. I wouldn’t have made it without them,” she said.
She said she would miss the girls because they used to cry and laugh together.
Laurie completed her BCom at the University of Johannesburg last year. After her studies, she did some community work. She said she’s looking forward to working closely with the Take A Girl Child To Work campaign together with Cell C and preparing for Miss Universe and Miss World and other initiatives that will be revealed through the year.
“Most importantly I want to be the best Liesl that I can be,” she said with a smile.
Laurie’s family, including her grandmother Lorrain and younger sister Micheala, were there to celebrate with her.
Her soft-spoken mother Karen Laurie – a spitting image of Liesl – told City Press that as a family they felt that this was their season.
“We were confident that Eldorado Park was going to get the crown. The community supported Liesl from day one; they were behind her,” she said.
She said when they announced that her daughter was Miss SA 2015, she was numb and shaking.
“It only sank in a few minutes later that it was real,” she said, smiling from ear to ear.
“We wish Laurie all the best in her new journey.
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