Marelize Steyn Earle has added a significant feather to her cap, recently clinching the prestigious Mrs Globe Classique crown for 2025 at an international pageant held in California.
Steyn Earle's win not only spotlights her personal journey as a beauty queen but also solidifies South Africa’s prominence on the global stage.
The George-based aesthetician and professional makeup artist's pageant journey traces back to 1993, when she was crowned Miss South Africa Second Princess, sharing the stage with Jacqui Mofokeng, the country’s first Black Miss SA.
Her victory also comes on the heels of another triumph when 2024 Queen Tshego Gaelae secured the title of Mrs World earlier this year, marking a remarkable period for the Mrs South Africa organisation.
The beauty queen's experience in the modelling arena also led her to win the Mrs South Africa title in 2002, and she has since devoted herself to mentoring others within the Mrs SA sisterhood, embodying a spirit of leadership and empowerment.
The six-day Mrs Globe Classique competition is renowned as the pinnacle of pageantry for women over 45.
Steyn Earle competed against 21 exceptional international contestants and stood out by sweeping several preliminary awards, including accolades for Mrs Fitness and Businesswoman of the Year. Her journey culminated in the esteemed Contestant's Choice award, voted on by her fellow delegates, before she was ultimately crowned as the queen.
Reflecting on her monumental achievement, Earle expressed her desire to inspire others: “This crown is proof that when you stay true to yourself and keep pushing forward, amazing things can happen. I hope my story encourages other women to keep chasing their dreams relentlessly and unapologetically, regardless of their age or any setbacks they may have faced.”
She also emphasized the importance of personal growth and the idea that it's never too late to better oneself.
“To have been chosen from among such an extraordinary group of women, each embodying grace, ambition, and elegance, is really humbling. The entire experience has been absolutely unforgettable, creating special memories that will last a lifetime. I'm deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by Mrs South Africa to attend as this year’s delegate, and for the opportunity to make my country proud.”
In an impassioned plea, Earle spoke of her hopes to tackle violence and abuse against women and children in South Africa, a pervasive issue that demands urgent attention. “We do not have strict laws in South Africa. Our government thinks they do, but they don't,” she pointedly remarked.
“I would love to be involved in changing the laws. But my hopes for the future are that we can have a better South Africa, especially for women and children.”
Her vision extends to creating a safer environment where women can walk freely, equitable in their relationships, and shielded from violence.
The Mrs South Africa organisation’s CEO, Joani Jacobs, hailed Steyn Earle's victory as a testament to the high calibre of women arising from their platform.
“Marelize's win gives evidence to the extremely high calibre of women who emerge from our platform. Even two decades after her Mrs South Africa reign, she continues to raise the bar for other participants,” Jacobs stated.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star