Local beauty, Riana Mooi is a semi-finalist of the Mrs South Africa Pageant. Riana’s story is inspiring and motivating for all women – young and old alike. She was born in Durban, suffered physical, mental and emotional abuse growing up before running away to Johannesburg to seek greener pastures. Through sheer determination, hard work and perseverance, Riana worked part-time jobs and educated herself.
Today, this local beauty is not just a pretty face – she has completed a BCom degree, various other training and development courses and has a successful career as a Risk Manager at Nedbank.
This year, Riana entered the Mrs South Africa Pageant in an effort to inspire and motivate women across all walks of life to achieve their goals and dreams despite personal circumstances or age.
Mrs South Africa women are married, sophisticated, beautiful and real. They are wives, in most cases mothers and are also successful, ambitious business women. Mrs South Africa women do it all. They shine in the boardroom, cook dinner for their families, do the school run, all the while looking well-groomed. The aim of the Pageant is to highlight the positive role of married women in South Africa, and the ideal candidate is someone who will make a difference in the lives of others and who embraces the values of marriage within the diverse cultures of her country.
The Mrs South Africa Pageant saw the highest quality and quantity of entrants this year. The Judges/Office had a tough task selecting the top 55 semi-finalists. Joani Johnson, Mrs South Africa Pty Ltd CEO said: “We are overwhelmed by the response and it is fantastic to see the growth of the company and to see the Pageant go from strength to strength.”
Riana is married and a mother of two, who resides in Roodepoort. She is passionate about community upliftment and giving back to those less fortunate. Despite her demanding career and studies, she makes time to participate in community projects and motivational talks to touch the lives of others and make a difference. She also often shares her testimony at various Christian Woman Ministry events – these talks are an ever present reminder of the journey that she has been on and one that she is fearless in travelling.
Riana has represented brands such as AVON Cosmetics as the Face of AVON 2007 and Mangwanani African Day Spa as Brand Ambassador. Mangwanani African Day Spa is sponsoring Riana for her journey through the Mrs South Africa Pageant.
The pageant judging process is tough – apart from having to make it through gruelling interviews, a swimwear and ball gown competition, as a semi-finalist of the Mrs South Africa Pageant, Riana will also have to raise funds for charity and be voted for by the public.
Because she is a strong advocate for causes such as CANSA and associated campaigns that raise awareness levels around the disease, CANSA is her nominated beneficiary for the funds she will raise during this round of the competition. The top 22 finalists will be announced on the 12th of April at Emperor’s Palace, at a glamorous gala dinner to be held in aid of CANSA. Tickets for the gala event are available from Riana via email to: mooiriana@hotmail.com at a cost of R550 per ticket. Public votes can be cast via SMS to 35959 – simply SMS Riana Mooi to 35959 to vote. SMS’s cost R3 and one can vote multiple times. Voting lines will close at 18H00 on the 11th of April 2014.
Follow Riana on Facebook Riana Mooi, Twitter @rianamooi and Instagram Riana Mooi
The next Mrs South Africa will be crowned on the 8th of August 2014 in the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperor’s Palace.
The Mrs South Africa Pageant is made possible because of generous contributions from their sponsors: Emperors Palace, Citroen Hatfield, Veaudry International, The Laser Beautique,
D’Orē, Skin Scripts, Slimz, Benjamin Adams, Brasilfit, Great Lengths, Hooters, Pure Motion Studios, Boss Models, The Dental Spa, Haute Cabrierre and Pierre Jourdan, TUSC (today’s Ultimate Skin care, Halouw Make-up Academy, Matchstick Design.
For more information about the CANSA Gala Dinner or the Mrs South Africa Pageant, please contact: Candice Fehrsen: info@mrssouthafrica.co.za
