One of South Africa’s most prestigious events, Miss South Africa, saw one of Potchefstroom’s beauties, Onalenna Constantin, take to the stage. Not only did she enter this pageant, she kept on performing week after week, and soon found herself in the Top 16. She continued to stun the judges and before she knew it, she was in the Top 10. She ended this pageant as the second runner-up, which is a wonderful achievement - both personally and professionally. During one of The Go-To Guy’s live streaming episodes, Stroom Stories, we had the opportunity to sit down with her and get to know the woman behind all the glitz and glam.
The motivation and inspiration behind entering
It’s always been a dream of hers to enter the Miss South Africa pageant, but this year in particular her story nudged her to enter. She felt this was her year to be a voice to the voiceless, as she herself is a survivor of gender-based violence. ”Because I overcame, I knew I could help someone else overcome, and this is why I entered.”
Her experience was really rewarding from start to finish, and she learned a lot from her overall journey, all whilst making new friends along the way “As much as it’s a competition, I feel like we need to anchor each other in a sense, because nobody understands the journey better than the people going through it with you”
What was the most challenging part of the competition?
“Waking up in the morning”, she answered jokingly. She mentioned that they would rehearse well into the night, and having to get up early for another day filled with photoshoots and interviews, presented a bit of a challenge for her, especially when fatigue started setting in. “I’m not a morning person, so that was challenging for me during the competition”
Memorable moments
One would think that one of the highlights of the entire journey was the beautiful gowns and outfits created by the talented Anel Botha Couture, or the moment she was announced as the second runner-up; but to Onalenna it was the friendships that were formed and the sisterhood amongst all the ladies who participated. “I left there with long-lasting friendships; and even though we were in competition with one another, we were backing each other.”
Competition preparation
Onalenna says she’s actually been preparing for this season her whole life. All of her life’s events led up to this one competition, and she was almost ‘going through the motions’ during each stage of the competition. “If you’re destined for something, your lifestyle will reflect it throughout your life.” From a young age she knew she wanted to be someone influential, someone who made a difference and had a positive impact on her community.
What do you think set you apart from the other contestants, and what do you think was the key to your success in reaching the top three?
Hard work and dedication. “We all worked hard in our respective positions.” She is also a firm believer that certain times and seasons happen for a reason. She believes that this was the right time for her, and that mindset is, what she believes, set her apart and allowed her to finish this competition as the second runner-up.
Is there any cause or issue that you are particularly passionate about that you plan to champion?
Being a survivor of gender-based violence herself, Onalenna will use this platform to speak about her experience, along with overcoming it. Your circumstances don’t define you, and even after the excitement from Miss South Africa has calmed down, she plans on continuing to advocate for the voiceless. The competition has given her the opportunity and platform to speak about this important issue. This is a cause that will continue long after her affiliation with Miss South Africa.
It takes a village
When asked about who her biggest inspiration and support system has been throughout this journey, without hesitation she answered, “my family”. Had it not been for her support system chanting her name, whether from home or during the Grand Finale, Onalenna said she probably would not have been able to go through that entire experience. Her journey wasn’t just about her, it was about her entire community, “and I knew I needed to step up”.
Advice for young women who aspire to follow in her footsteps
“Know yourself. Know who you are, what you’re about and what’s your story, and know why you’re doing this - that will carry you through the whole process. Inspire people with your story, don’t just enter a competition just for the limelight.”
How do you stay motivated and grounded in such a high-pressure environment?
The major thing that keeps her grounded is her faith. “At the end of the day, God’s will will always prevail; my family also keeps me in check.” She further mentioned that you have to have complete trust and faith that you are called for certain seasons.
Miss South Africa in three words
“A life-changing experience.”
It's a process of growth
“I’ve grown a lot!” She had to learn how to be vulnerable and show her wounds on such a public platform, as her main goal was to go out and tell her story, to motivate and inspire others who went through (or who are going through) what she went through. “It was the most challenging, but also the most rewarding [thing]”. The more you talk about your scars, the more you heal, and the more you grow.
Words of wisdom during the competition
“When I was struggling with my vulnerability and opening up, the CEO of the organisation told me that ‘you need to own your story’, and be proud of your story - claim your narrative!” So those were the words that carried her through the remainder of the competition.
A message for her supporters
“My main message is just to thank everybody. I think that I had one of the most supportive groups of people. My community really backed me from start to finish, and I really hold a lot of gratitude in my heart for Potchefstroom. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, you are amazing, and I hope to make Potch really proud moving forward. The journey doesn’t end here, it continues, and we are still going to put Potchefstroom on the map!”
Johané van Dyk - Potchefstroom
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Give her a follow
Follow Onalenna on Instagram to keep an eye out for when she will be visiting schools or partaking in charity events.
Stroom Stories
To take a look at the live interview with Onalenna, head on over to our Facebook page, visit the Stroom Stories section on our website or click on the image below.
