QUITTERS NEVER WIN

Cindy Nell (#16) only made the Top 10 at the 1999 Miss Surf pageant in Strand during December 1998, but 4 years later she was crowned Miss South Africa. She went on to achieve South Africa's highest placement in 20 years at the 2003 Miss Universe pageant.

PHOTO SHOOT SELECTION

Here is a selection of photographs from the Miss Atlantic SA photo shoot on Monday. All the stunning gowns are by Charlene Sauerman and the photographs were taken by Peta Fruin at her studio in Kenridge.

Michelle will wear the green gown in the Evening Gown competition, the pink gown at the official reception, the silver dress for the Interview competition and the floral gown at a press function.

EISH MISS ATLANTICO SA!

Miss Atlantico SA, Michelle Gildenhuys, completed her photo shoot for the international pageant and this is her National Costume portrait. The stunning leopard print gown is by Charlene Sauerman.

The gown has an African theme and the leopard print fabric is adorned with African trinkets and brooches. A sandy-coloured chiffon cape will be added to give the feel of a dust storm on an African plain for the Presentation Show.

MANHUNT SEMI-FINALIST

After 4 "misses", South Africa finally scored a "hit" when Jacques Fagan from Cape Town made the Top 16 at the 2010 Manhunt International pageant in Taichung, Taiwan. South Africa last placed at this pageant back in 2002 when Jorge Maia made the Top 15.

Between 2002 and 2010 this leading male pageant has only been held on four occasions (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008) and each time the South African delegate was reduced to "clapper" status. Hopefully this Top 16 placement is the start of a more positive run.

STRAND TOWER HOTEL

Miss October Top 5 finalist, Alexia Kritikos, recently enjoyed her complimentary night for 2 at the Strand Tower Hotel in Cape Town. The hotel is located on the corner of Strand & Loop Street. This luxury 4 star hotel brings excellent accommodation and conference facilities to the city of Cape Town.

The 240 bedrooms are equipped with en-suite bathrooms with separate bath and shower. Individual climate control, minibar, safety deposit box, tea/coffee making facilities and hair dryer are available in the bedroom. The TV boasts local channels and Cable. Wireless Internet is available in all the rooms.

The pool deck on the 2nd floor will provide our guests an oasis in the middle of Cape Town. A gym area and sauna/steam room with fabulous views of The Table Mountain will help you to relax after a hard work day, whether this is business or leisure.

Facilities include an on-site restaurant, bar, pool and pool deck, undercover parking, 24 hours room service and reception, concierge and security. An executive lounge is available for business travelers.

The hotel's exquisite conference facilities consist of five conference rooms, accommodating between 10 and 200 people. There is a great access to the Highways N1&N2, walking distance to the Cape Town International Conference Centre, V&A Waterfront and Cape Town City Centre.

MICHELLE GETS HER GOWNS

The loveliest lass on the Atlantic Coast of South Africa has been hard at work preparing for the 2011 Miss Atlantico Internacional contest in Uruguay. Miss Atlantico SA, Michelle Gildenhuys, spent the day with the fabulous Charlene Sauerman finalising her wardrobe for the pageant that takes place in Punta del Este on Saturday 12 February next year.

TOP 5 NATIONAL COSTUME

I haven't really being paying much attention to the Miss Earth SA and Miss Earth pageants purely because I'm a pageant purist and the best looking girls hardly ever dominate at either pageant. I'm going to get my butt kicked by the "inner beauty crap crowd", but I've never made a secret of the fact that I don't really care much for anything other than face and figure when it comes to beauty pageants.

As long as the girl looks fabulous in photographs, has a killer body and doesn't beat up old people, children and animals, I don't really care much for personality. If the girl has all the physical qualities necessary to win, and she can pull off the faux smile and charm with conviction, she's a winner in my books. In the event of a tie, then personality will determine the winner, and that is a bonus. Anyways, back to Miss Earth.

As I said, I haven't really been following the Miss Earth system for the reasons mentioned above, but I must confess that the latest South African delegate at Miss Earth is really impressing me. I tried hard not to like her, but there is something about her that just appeals to me and I won't be in the least bit surprised if she becomes the first South African to make the Top 8 at Miss Earth.

The crowd across the pond in the Philippines must share my sentiments because they have just voted her colourful, but rather uninspiring national costume as one of the Top 5 at the pageant. Not only that, but she was finalist in the talent competition. Can't wait for 04 December to see if she can pull something out of the bag and make the Top 4.

MISS ATLANTICO SA 2012

Punta del Este is an upscale resort on the southern tip of Uruguay, southeast of Maldonado and about 140 km east of Montevideo. Although the town has a year-round population of about 7,300, the summer tourist boom often boosts the population by an extra 500,000.

One of the summer attractions is the Miss Atlantico Internacional pageant that has been held annually since 1987. The pageant attracts entrants from the Americas and Europe, and next year South Africa will participate for the first time when Michelle Gildenhuys takes to the stage on Saturday 12 February.

You could be the second South African to compete at this international pageant if you enter, and win, the Miss Atlantic Surf pageant in Strand. If you are the lucky lady that wins this pageant on Saturday 16 April, you will be winging your way to Uruguay in February 2012 to compete at Miss Atlantico Internacional.

MR UNIVERSE MODEL SA

The Mr Universe Model pageant is an annual international pageant for men that has been held in the Dominican Republic since 2008. Although the contestant list has been dominated by contestants from Latin American countries, there has been a steady increase in the number of contestants from other parts of the globe.

The first edition of the pageant attracted contestants from 21 countries and regions, and the most recent edition featured 33 international contestants. The 2011 pageant will be held from 2 to 15 May, and South Africa will be represented for the first time.

The winner of the Mr Atlantic Surf title will travel to the Dominican Republic in 2012. To qualify for the chance to compete at this international event, you need to enter the Mr Atlantic Surf pageant that will be held in the Strand Civic Centre on Saturday 16 April.

MISS SA FINALISTS

Anja van Zyl
Bianca Coutinho
Bokang Montjane
Careen Truter
Chanel Grantham
Danicka Riehl
Dhesha Jeram
Dorah Mtetwa
Kiasha Naidoo
Malesotse Makgalemele
Natasha Kashimoto
Sandhya Naidoo

Courtesy of The Sowetan.

MISS ATLANTICO SA

22-year-old Michelle Gildenhuys will be South Africa's representative at the 2011 Miss Atlantico Internacional pageant in Uruguay. Michelle flies to Punta del Este on 1 February next year and will return after the pageant final on 12 February.

The pageant celebrates it's 25th anniversary in 2011 and a record number of entries is expected. Since the Miss Atlantic Coast SA pageant is the official preliminary pageant for Miss Atlantico Internacional, and will only be held after the international event, Michelle was hand-picked by the organisers to compete.

OOPS! I'VE MADE A MISTAKE

When I found out who had been selected as finalists in the Miss SA pageant, I was stoked (nice word) that I had selected 9 finalists correctly out of a pool of 34 semi-finalists. Given that it really is anyone's guess what the criteria are for selection these days, and one has to guestimate at the best of times, I think it was quite a good score.

I never bothered to look at the YOU last Friday when the photographs of the finalists appeared, and merely uploaded a collage of the finalists I had prepared a week earlier based on a tip I had received. But I now have to admit that I have made a horrible mistake. One of the 3 girls that I had not selected as a finalist is now my favourite for the crown.

Kiasha Naidoo is my new favourite for the Miss SA title based on the photographs I have just seen in the YOU. She definitely has a JoAnn Strauss vibe. Not a favourite before the 2000 Miss SA pageant, but definitely on most lists of favourite Miss SA's of all-time. In addition to my new No 1, 3 finalists that were previously in my Top 5 have now dropped way down the list.

Alas, I have heard rumours about who is going to win, and my selections are totally irrelevant this year. I suppose I can't expect lightning to strike twice in the same place after getting it right with Nicole Flint last year.

MATAPA'S EVENING GOWN?

I was told that Matapa Maila's gown for Miss International was orgas.... well, fabulous. I sincerely hope there is another gown because the one she wore for the official evening gown photo shoot (above) looks positively hideous.

I can't decide whether it's the colour (looks like mould on a piece of stale Tussers cheese) or the big Voortrekker bow/pouff/blom thing on the front of the dress that is off-putting. Either way, it's not going to win any awards and I expected better from the designer responsible for creating the gown.

PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS

Can someone please tell me how this drab and plain Pumpkin Festival Princess / Integrated College of Theology Rag Queen / Spinster International managed to make the Top 25 at Miss World, let alone win the title...

...and this gorgeous and glamorous woman failed to crack the Top 7?

But you need to draw me a picture because they have yet to formulate the words needed for me to understand this.

That lecherous old horn-toad, Eric Morley, must be doing pirouettes in his grave given the direction that the pageant has taken since he kicked the bucket. Oi!