IN CONVO - Melinda Bam and Katlego Phajane, Hyde Park Corner, Johannesburg

A lovely morning at Life Grand Café, Hyde Park
with Melinda Bam and Katlego Phajane

Meeting Veet SA ambassador, Melinda Bam and the reigning Miss Veet SA, Katlego Phajane over a coffee at Life Grand Café in Hyde Park was simply delightful. Many people have set ideas about beauty queens: pretty yet vacuous, charming yet plastic and somewhat superficial.  All these stereotypes were quickly dispelled once we started chatting to Melinda and Katlego. Indeed, the Miss Veet SA competition takes a modern stance on pageants: the young woman who will walk away with the crown needs to be ‘graceful and captivating, smart and inspiring, lively and sociable’. This is not just a ramp model but rather a role model for the new generation of empowered young women – one who is well-balanced and an inspiration to others out there as opposed to being simply physically beautiful.

Radiant beauties (from left):
Melinda Bam and Katlego Phajane

Melinda strongly emphasized the elements of balance that the ideal Miss Veet SA would embody: ‘It’s also about being healthy and taking good care of yourself.’ Melinda confessed that even though exercising and working out was challenging for her at times, she always felt better after a workout session (instead of having a personal trainer, her fiancé, a former Mr. South Africa himself, Adriaan Bergh doubles as her motivator when it comes to physical activity). Katlego echoed this sentiment too stating that as the current Miss Veet SA, remaining in good physical shape is important not only to look one’s best but rather to be at one’s healthiest. It’s clearly a case of beauty inside and out.

We loved chatting about ideas to get more guys to use Veet
Melinda has already it on her fiancé, Adriaan Bergh! 

Melinda was one of the judges that made the decision to crown Katlego with the title of Miss Veet SA 2014. It’s clear that a great mentoring relationship and friendship has developed between the two. The mentoring sessions offered to the top 10 contestants are an important part of the competition. Melinda explained that it’s about building self-confidence and the ability to tackle challenges. It’s not just about winning or losing a beauty pageant but rather about developing skills and abilities that will mean that the title of Miss Veet SA serves the winner long after the year has ended. ‘365 days go by so quickly and you really need to make each day count,’ Melinda explained. Of course, she’s no stranger to the rapidity with which a reigning year can go by having been crowned Miss SA in 2011. ‘It’s about what you do with the title that matters’. Clearly, she put her pageant win to great effect and still continues to work her magic by passing knowledge and expertise on to newbies like Katlego. Katlego has enjoyed her reign thus far and is excited for the next few months as the search begins for a new Miss Veet SA. She already has plans to use her platform to her greatest possible advantage once her reign has ended. And what better way to start of a career than with the fantastic prizes on offer as the winner of Miss Veet SA? A modeling contract worth a hefty sum is only one of the great prizes.

We thoroughly enjoyed our In Convo with these two ladies!

However, after chatting to Melinda and Katlego, it is clear that the greatest benefit of winning a competition like this is the possibility of amazing friendships, mentoring and opportunities for growth the lucky young woman will receive. We cannot wait to usher in a new Miss Veet SA. Entries are now open at www.veetbeauty.co.za for young women aged between 18-25.