“Entering Miss South Africa means, fulfilling a lifelong dream and embarking on a journey of self-discovery. I am confident that I will be a worthy leader and an ambassador for our country. I believe that I possess the strength, determination and confidence to represent our country on a national and international level. I have passion and compassion, and believe that our people are our greatest asset. I aim to combine my personal goals and strengths with those of the Miss South Africa organisation to make a positive social impact in our society by means of engaging with our people and emphasising their strengths. I want to be a role model to young women across the country and an ambassador for women’s empowerment.”
Shane Naidoo, Miss South Africa 2015 finalist!!

Shane Naidoo, 22 years old finalist of Miss South Africa 2015, comes from Farrarmere in Benoni and is a third year student of Industrial Engineering at Wits. Shane decided to study engineering because she enjoys the challenge that the course presents. The industrial environment, she believes, allows her to be creative an innovative while still applying logic and working with numbers. “It’s a field that focuses on optimising and improving, which is something that speaks to me on so many different levels, as the knowledge obtained from this programme can be applied to a multitude of different areas in my life.”, she says.

Shane lives with her parents in Benoni. Her mom is an ex-teacher and entrepreneur and her dad is the technical manager of a cement ready-mix manufacturing company. Shane says that her parents have been supportive of every decision of her and she shares great bond with them. Shane has an elder sister and she believes that both of them have been raised with strong morals and values by their parents, who taught them to be independent. Shane is a fitness freak and likes to work out at the gym and attend power boxing classes. In her spare time, she likes to be indulged in a good book to unwind herself and relax.

The 22 years old, Benobni beauty is an adventure queen. She unveils her adventurous side and talks about her voyage experiences and says, “I’m a bit of an adrenalin junkie. I’ve been bungee jumping, zip-lining, swimming with dolphins and I have experienced sky-diving simulation. Next on my bucket list is conquering the Soweto Tower. One day I would like to skydive over the Palm Islands in Dubai. I crave adventure!”

Shane follows and considers Oprah Winfrey as her solitary idol. Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. Talking about Oprah, shane says, “Oprah Winfrey embodies everything that a strong, successful woman should be. Her life is the ultimate success story. She is a true example of persistence and determination. Her teachings are empowering and I admire the way she uses her platform to reach out to millions of people across the world and touch so many lives. She inspires me on both a personal and a professional level.”

Can this voyage empress be the new Queen of Miss South Africa 2015? What is your take?