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.
Kaylan Matthews 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 25-years-old and stands 160 cm tall. She is in the final year of studies for a Bachelors in Human Movement Science (BHMS) at Nelson Mandela University. She wants to correct misinformation people are told about the health and fitness industry with the knowledge she obtained from her degree. Kaylan also wants to motivate people to accept themselves and learn to love themselves and fall in love with exercise and all its benefits.
After being announced as one of the finalists, she mentioned, "I am ready to inspire and empower those that will follow me. As a country, we need to continue voicing problematic conversations but not forget all the joyous moments we as women and a country experience. "
Kaylan describes herself as an ambivert, empathetic, and headstrong. She explains that she has always admired Miss South Africa’s platform but did not enter until now, especially after the organization decided to lift the restrictions. She sees herself amongst the great women who have entered before her, not only contributing to diversity and inclusivity but further using her voice in conjunction with theirs to carry on addressing and voicing concerns. The sisterhood built up in the organization is admirable and it’s something Kaylan can see herself being a part of.
The diva shared that her family has been her biggest support system as they would remind her not to ever quit and work hard to achieve whatever her heart desired. She added, "I grew closer to my faith, and with this, I am content knowing that my journey is unique, my timing is my own and perseverance will get me to where I need to be." Kaylan strongly feels that young people nowadays are facing the issue of being compared, especially on social media, which can affect them mentally and physically. That’s something she’d like to change. She wants them to feel empowered the way they are and speak up for something they feel is right and address their issues.
Kaylan would like every girl and woman in South Africa to know that their dreams are valid and they just need to believe and appreciate their physical attributes and needs. She adds that it’s important to have a vision in life that puts an individual on a path of self-focus. Talking about how beauty pageants are relevant, the gorgeous beauty stated, "Different platforms empower different women. Each platform serves its purpose yet strives towards a common goal. A woman can walk on a local/ global stage and feel beautiful. They also use the stage to address world issues to a large audience. These women are sometimes highly qualified and skilled in certain areas. If beauty pageants were no longer serving a purpose, their interest in them would have declined. Women are inspired by women and nothing is degrading about that. "
The stunning beauty from the Eastern Cape lastly added when questioned who she would like to meet if she wins the crown, "Any person that has paved the path for the next deserves my respect and I would be honoured to meet them." She is emerging as an optimistic, confident, and assured woman who is going to take the stage with her expected performance and could represent South Africa on an international platform.
Congratulations!