By Kaya 959 News
Miss Universe South Africa, Natasha Joubert, has revealed some of the outfits she will be wearing at the 69th Miss Universe pageant which is scheduled to take place next month in Florida in the United States.
Joubert, a 23-year-old B. Comm graduate said she is fully prepared for the upcoming pageant.
“My preparations started when I was crowned Miss Universe South Africa last year. I have been looking forward to this event from the moment of my crowning and will carry the Miss Universe South Africa title with pride. I know that I have big shoes to fill following in the footsteps of both Zozi and Demi-Leigh Nel- Peters,” she said.
Her national costume – which she showed off at her Miss Universe farewell as part of her #DestinyDesigned virtual fashion show – has been designed by designer to the stars Gert-Johan Coetzee while Jolandie Fouche of Jolache Couture is responsible for a number of evening gowns for the pageant.
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Inspiration for the breathtaking gown was drawn from school children’s experiences in lockdown.
Joubert will be carrying the children of South Africa with her when she walks onto the international stage in her national costume, as the fabric wings of her unique gown have been printed with drawings made by young children from Diepsloot and Randburg. The artwork tells the story of pre-school children’s very personal experiences of lockdown and how the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted their young lives.
Commenting on the gown, Coetzee, said he wanted to create something special and proudly South African.
“We not only created a garment to show off our skills and for dramatic effect, but it also had to be something truly meaningful and represent a cause close to Natasha’s heart. That is why we decided to take sketches from local children, to portray how they currently see the state of world in their own ‘words’. We took their actual sketches, digitised them and printed them on white flowy fabric and created an angelic silhouette for Natasha to symbolise overcoming hardship through guidance,” he said.
He added that the children were amazing and came up with images that truly reflect the regulations of lockdown; some funny, others poignant and meaningful.
“A number drew the usual pre-school child’s image of the family, only the mum, dad and brothers and sisters were drawn far apart to show social distancing,” she said, adding that the drawings really moved her,” Coetzee added.
According to Maths Clubs facilitator at Diepsloot based Olico, an organisation that makes maths accessible to township children, Fadziso Matanhike, they were proud to be part of the Miss Universe South Africa costume design.
“These drawings represent the difficulties that children have faced during the Covid pandemic. We are very proud that this artwork will be worn by Miss Universe South Africa at the pageant, taking some of South Africa with her,” Matanhike said.
Principal of Toddies Pre-school and Creche in Randburg, Hendrene Mintcher, said the youngsters “put so much feeling into the drawings”.
She said they came up with images of greeting each other by knocking elbows, of them wearing masks, of social distancing and they showed what they’ve learnt about Covid and the precautions necessary to prevent its spread.
For Jolandie Fouche of Jolache Couture, it was her first-time designing evening gowns for an international pageant.
She said designing for a beauty pageant is very different from any other designs.
“Pageants are extremely competitive. You have to make sure that your dress will make a lasting impression on the judges for all the right reasons, while at the same time complimenting the contestant and accentuating her beauty and personality,” she said.
Picture source: Supplied
