The Miss South Africa organization will be hosting the coronation for Miss South Africa 2021 on 16th October 2021 at Sun International Grandwest Arena, where the representatives for next year’s editions of Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Supranational will be crowned. The organization officially announced the top 10 delegates who will now compete for the national crown.
Catherine Groenewald is one of the finalists who will be vying for the coveted crowns and an opportunity to represent South Africa on an international stage. She is 23-years-old. She is in her final year of a B. Com Visual Communications degree, majoring in graphic design. She is also a barre fitness instructor and a full-time model with Topco Models. She started an online business called, ‘Delish Bakery’ during the lockdown and aspired to create her all-female design agency.
After being announced as one of the finalists, Catherine mentioned, "I’m strong, confident, and willing to work extremely hard to be the best version of myself to serve others." She is not new to the world of beauty pageants as she entered Miss South Africa 2019 and made it to the top 30. Catherine shared that not being able to make it past the top 30 was hard for her, but she bounced back by realizing that she needed to work on herself to achieve what she desired. So, she spent the next two years learning, growing, and understanding herself.
Catherine’s father is her role model and she shared that her father had a tough life growing up, but his never-giving-up attitude helped him to own his own steel company. Catherine’s father has taught her to never give up on dreams. She is an advocate for mental health as she strongly believes that people should be taught to take care of their brains to make the right decisions. She shared, “I have battled depression, but I’ve started seeing a psychologist and it’s helped tremendously. Advocating for mental health awareness is a passion point of mine.”
The stunning queen shared, "I’m so proud of how I’ve grown since my entry in 2019. I’ve always known that I want to have a positive influence on the world and make an impact on people. I remember telling an educational psychologist this and she told me it would never happen. Sitting here today writing this makes me so proud. Nothing makes me more determined to succeed than when someone tells me I can't. " She stated that she understands that it’s not easy being a woman in South Africa, but it is up to us to ensure that future generations of women are set up for success. She urged everyone to support each other to grow.
On asking about who she would meet if she won Miss South Africa 2021, Catherine mentioned, "Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. She completely took over a male-dominated field and did so with grace, compassion, and enthusiasm. She is relatable, down to earth, and genuinely wants to make her country better and is doing so. She makes me proud to be a woman. "
Catherine is one of the loved delegates at Miss South Africa 2021, who also encouraged the youth by asking them not to let anybody stop them from chasing their dreams. She describes herself as a driven, loyal, and caring person who is looking forward to representing her country on an international platform.
Congratulations!