Semi-finalist! #TammyTaylorMrsSA19

“Maybe it won’t work out, but maybe seeing if it does will be your biggest adventure yet.”

One week ago I plucked up the courage to go and attend the Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa casting in Johannesburg. I had no idea what to expect or what would happen but I knew I had to try anyway! I stayed at Emperors Palace, in the City of Ekurhuleni, which is right where the pageant casting took place. This was very convenient as the casting day was almost 12 hours long! There were over a hundred ladies that were invited to the casting and we entered into the casting room in groups of ten, where we then had the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the judges and talk a bit more about ourselves and why we were entering the pageant. I was very happy with how my casting went, I just hope the judges didn’t notice my shaking hands and sweaty brow! By 4pm the castings were over and we were all bundle of nerves! It was all worth it though, since I was then announced as a semi-finalist!

The next couple of days were very long but very exciting as all the semi-finalists attended workshops to find out more information about what the Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa entails and to meet all the sponsors and find out more information about them.

We then found out that this is not a mere beauty pageant, as some might think, but actually a female empowerment and entrepreneurship program! And now for the next few months leading up to the judging in June, we are to attend events, take part in community projects, do some social media work for the sponsors and help raise money for their official charity, Women4Women. It is going to be a busy next few months but I am ready for the challenge!

The judging to choose the top 25 finalists will take place at the end of June, where there will be a swimwear (which counts 30%) and interview round (70% of score). They will also choose 1 finalist according to the SMS votes, Facebook likes and who the sponsors choose as their favourite ambassador. The 25 finalists will then be announced at the Charity Ball, which will take place the day after the judging.

To help secure my spot in the top 25, please vote for me! You can vote by:

• SMS: SMS “Michelle Sky” to 35959 (R3/SMS, free messages do not count and can be from a South African sim card only)
• Facebook: LIKE my official Facebook picture HERE
• Engage on my social media: Facebook and Instagram 

You can also help me by contributing to my BackaBuddy page, which my sister set up for me to help me with my expenses throughout the event. It would mean the world to me if you would have a look at it!

I really hope that by being a part of the Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa, I can inspire other women to reach for their dreams like I have!