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Vodacom Durban July Media
Release |
No: VDJ1823 |
2 July
2018 |
Embargo : None |
Written by :
Dave Macleod |
Miss Deaf SA keen to make a statement at Vodacom Durban July
Durban -
Beauty
queens, past and present, will be in abundance at the Vodacom Durban
July, but one of them is eager to use the occasion to make a statement.
Miss Deaf SA Chantelle Pretorius wants to use her position to inspire
any South African facing a challenging disability to follow her motto
and 'embrace life'.
The Eastern Cape beauty has dealt with challenges systematically through
her school years at Hangklip High school and then completing her
teaching degree at the University of the Free State.
"I want to motivate and build other people up, especially those with
disabilities and people that get bullied in any way," she said. "I want
to encourage people to embrace their own uniqueness."
"My disability has never stopped me. I want to encourage people to have
the right approach to life.
"With my disability I could easily have sat in my little corner feeling
sorry for myself." she added. "The only thing you can change is your own
behaviour which enables you to make lifestyle changes and form new
horizons.
"Just dare to begin. Look beyond where you are today – see what you
might become tomorrow," she said enthusiastically.
She will be wearing a gown designed by Franscois Britton, who will
accompany her on the big day at Greyville Racecourse.
Pretorius was diagnosed with meningitis at the age of seven months and
was given a 5% chance of survival. At eleven months the meningitis
returned, leaving her completely deaf. "I started wearing hearing aids
and attended the Carl du Toit Centre for Hearing Impaired Children at
the Tygerberg hospital in the Western Cape," said Pretorius.
"A cochlear implant at the age of four opened the world of sound and
speech to me," says Pretorius. "Communication became much easier for me
and I started my school career in Elliot, a small little town in the
Eastern Cape until grade six when I went to Hangklip High school in
Queenstown where I matriculated in 2011.
"Despite many challenges and being bullied for my 'disability' I
represented my school’s first team in athletics, tennis, squash and
hockey.
"In 2012 I become a Kovsie and represented the University’s first
women's football team from 2013 to 2015. I graduated with a Bachelor’s
degree in education in 2015. At the moment I am a foundation phase
teacher at Barkly-East primary school," she explains.
Pretorius will be representing South Africa at the Miss Deaf World 2018
pageant in Prague in the Czech Republic in September.
"My goal is to bring back another World crown," she said. "South Africa
has the most beautiful, educated and unapologetic woman in the Miss and
Mrs South African pageants platforms. If we can make a difference in
someone's life, even if that person is a stranger, with a smile, a hug
or even some words of encouragement, then a difference for good has been
made at that moment," she said.
The 2018 Vodacom Durban July takes place at Greyville Racecourse on
Saturday 7 July. More information can be found at
www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za
Social Media
#VDJ2018
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/VodacomDurbanJuly/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/VodacomDbnJuly
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/VodacomDurbanJuly/
ENDS
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Photo |
Caption |
Photographer/
Agency |
Click to download the
hi-resolution pic |
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Vodacom Durban July logo - landscape |
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Vodacom Durban July logo - landscape |
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Miss Deaf SA Chantelle Pretorius will be
using the Vodacom Durban July to encourage any person facing a
disability to live their life to the full. |
Supplied/
Gameplan Media |
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Miss Deaf SA Chantelle Pretorius will be
wearing this grown by Franscois Britton to the Vodacom Durban July on
Saturday 7 July. |
Supplied/
Gameplan Media |
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The theme
"It Is Time" for the 2018 Vodacom Durban July - JPeg |
Gameplan Media |
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The theme
"It Is Time" for the 2018 Vodacom Durban July - PDF |
Gameplan Media |
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