Tamaryn Green was crowned Miss South Africa 2018 on 27th May 2018 at the Sun Arena at Time Square in Pretoria. Then 24-year-old South African beauty had not only made a mark at the national level but also had represented her country with pride and sincerity at the international stage. She later represented South Africa at Miss Universe 2018 on 17th December 2018 at IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province, north of Bangkok, Thailand where she was adjudged as the first runner-up at the end of the event finale.
Tamaryn was born to parents David Green and Ellirene Green in Worcester, Western Cape and studied medicine at the University of Cape Town, graduating with a medical degree in 2019. She entered the world of beauty pageants in 2018 when she participated in Miss South Africa 2018 and impressed everyone with her strong performance and views. She was eventually crowned as the winner of the title which also made her the official representative of the country at Miss Universe 2018 stage.
During her acceptance speech at Miss South Africa 2018, the queen stated, “I promise to build on the legacy of all former Miss South Africa title holders and to represent my country with elegance, style, beauty and unwavering commitment. Miss South Africa is so much more than just a competition. It is a calling, an opportunity to give back to the country that has richly provided so much to me so far. As Miss South Africa I will be in a strong position to assist with the reconstruction of a better South Africa. I have always been passionate about making a positive and progressive difference in the lives of others. I grew up being exposed to two very different worlds: That of the fortunate and less fortunate. I want to assist in bringing those worlds together. I believe this can be done by providing equal education to all. Actions speak louder than words. I want to be a voice to those who cannot be heard, a servant and role model to South Africans and to the people of the world at large.”
Ever since her national crowning, Tamaryn began to prepare for her international stint at Miss Universe 2018. With her alluring beauty and hard work, she not only managed to amaze everyone but also proved her worth with her scintillating performance, winning the first runner-up award at the competition. She emerged as one of the strongest contenders for the title but unfortunately lost the title to Catriona Gray from the Philippines. But the diva kept working as Miss South Africa 2018 and describes her reign as challenging yet fulfilling. “I won’t trade a second of it,” the diva stated.
During her final question and answer round at Miss Universe 2018, she beautifully answered her question where she was asked if countries should limit the number of refugees allowed across the borders, Tamaryn surprised everyone with her mature thinking and eloquence. She replied, “I think that every country should have their own rules and regulations, but for a thriving society and for all of us to stand together, we have to understand that we are all human and that we are more alike that we are not. So, we should be open to loving each other, accepting each other. It doesn't matter where we come from.”
Then medical student but now a successful doctor; decided to join pageantry after she was diagnosed with Tuberculosis and was cured later. She mentioned that her parents weren’t exactly thrilled with her decision of joining beauty pageants but she was determined and felt that this is sign from god and went ahead with it. She stated, “They often would say, ‘Why now? Why in your final year of medicine?’ And I really didn’t have a great response but I just had a feeling, man, and my relationship with God had become better and I just knew that this was his plan.”
The diva who had dealt with pulmonary TB, associated with tuberculous lymphadenitis, which is a TB infection of the lymph nodes in the neck herself is now a proud a TB advocate and trends the hash tag of ‘Break the Stigma’. She has amazed everyone with her humanitarian work across the country and in spreading awareness about her cause. She had mentioned in one of her talks that she decided not to talk about it because the pain was unbearable. Tamaryn had applied for the pageant before falling ill in 2015 but her health forced her to withdraw her application and three years later, she applied again as a strong, independent, and determined woman and eventually won at the end of the event finale. After winning the title, the diva realized that the platform gives her a massive platform and a wider audience to aware and she held onto that opportunity and opened about her suffering and how did she overcome it.
(Photo Credits: Tamaryn Green Instagram)
Tamaryn planned on expanding the campaign to help break the stigma around other diseases and to take it to communities. “Being diagnosed with TB was one of the most challenging times in my life. But I received amazing support from my parents, siblings, a few faculty members who really helped me to overcome this,” she said. After opening with the organization as well as the audience about her illness she received an outpouring of support from TB survivors and became a World Health Organization and National Department of Health ambassador. In September 2018, she addressed the United Nations’ first-ever high-level panel on TB.
Post her reign, diva worked hard to earn respect for her academic achievements and fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor which were partly because her father also wanted to become one but the apartheid system denied him that. “I always wanted to fulfil that dream for him. When I went to university and started medicine, I fell in love with it. I am blessed that once I started studying medicine, I realized that I really have a love for it. I’d love to make a difference in people’s lives by helping and healing.” She became a successful doctor in 2019 and she announced it with a caption, “It’s official, results are out. You can call me Dr. Tamaryn Green. All the glory to the God.”
Tamaryn Green has made her country proud at the international platform and carried forward the legacy of her predecessor Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters who was crowned Miss Universe in 2017. She crowned her successor Zozibini Tunzi at the grand finale of Miss South Africa 2019 on 9th August 2019 at Sun International’s flagship venue, the Sun Arena at Times Square, Pretoria. Zozibini Tunzi was later crowned as Miss Universe 2019.
Tamaryn currently has been creating awareness with the likes of the solidarity fund and telling people where they can donate and how they can help in times of covid19. She is also working on raising funds so that she can make a meaningful donation to the cause. She is using her platform to promote NGOs and funds dedicated to managing the pandemic and encouraging others to participate. On asking about the current situation in South Africa, Tamaryn mentioned, “I am proud of the unity our country has shown by staying indoors and obeying to the lockdown regulations.” Tamaryn is also one of the front liners in the fight with coronavirus and stated that the leadership of her hospital has been outstanding in managing suspected Covid- 19 cases and preparing for possible positive cases.
On her 26th birthday today, we’d like to wish her a very happy birthday. She had posted a picture on her social media with a caption, “Grateful for another year. So, blessed. 19.08.94” We are grateful for a queen like her who has not only overcome her illness but is also trying to break the stigma and normalize the nature of the illness and is working as a front liner at the hospital in tough time like today.