Author Archives: Nisha Varghese

Miss Earth South Africa Heads for Manila…

Miss Earth South Africa 2024, Jessica Amy Nell

Miss Earth South Africa Heads for Manilla… The recently announce Miss Earth South Africa 2024, Jessica Nel heads to Manilla, Philippines this week to participate in one of the top 4 international beauty pageants. The Miss Earth South Africa is a leadership and empowerment programme that boasts 21 Years of Impact in serving people and planet. Jessica Nel is a passionate advocate for sustainable fashion, a Graphic Designer and Social Media Manager by day, Nel also has her national colours for choir, she is a drum majorette star and has her advanced diving licence. She is a thrill seeker at heart with horse-riding, sky-diving and deep sea-diving amongst her favourite hobbies. She is a soft-spoken individual with a Proudly South African Heritage that she believes we all need to fight for and protect.

The Miss Earth South Africa leadership programme proudly celebrates its different partnerships that have contributed to their 21year success. Longtime partner Southern Sun, Samsonite and Cathay Pacific have assisted in making things happen and have contributed to preparing Jessica for her international trip. Samsonite have given this Green Queen an exquisite three piece, upcycled luggage set. Her ticket has been provided by Cathay Pacific and they will be wishing her a safe flight to represent our beautiful country on an international platform.

“On the back of the announcement, I would like to congratulate the Miss Earth South Africa Programme, now in its 21st year of Impact. Southern Sun is consciously committed to integrating best environmental practices into our core business strategy, and we try to ensure that our conduct meets the needs of the present, while minimising the cost to future generations,” said Candy Tothill Kruger, Southern Sun’s Corporate Affairs Management Consultant. “On behalf of Southern Sun we extend our warmest Congratulations to Jessica Nel, our new Miss Earth South Africa and we wish her the best of luck as she represents the nation at the International Miss Earth in the Philippines.”

More than an ordinary beauty pageant, Miss Earth South Africa has been at the forefront of promoting environmental sustainability and empowering young women to be environmental advocates. “We are trying to plant seeds in the minds of young children and regular citizen who want to do more for the environment, they are just not sure how. We say, “Start with putting on your Green Glasses” look around you for ways to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink and Respect Mother Nature.” Says co-director Ella Bella Leite. “For over two decades, Miss Earth has been a global platform that showcases not only the graceful elegance of its’ finalists but also their dedication to making their country a greener, more sustainable place. This unique programme encourages participants to actively engage in community activities that address critical environmental issues, thereby fostering a sense of responsibility and sustainability”, explains co-director, Catherine Constantinides.

The international event will be staged in Manila, Philippines on November 9, 2024. Catch Jessica’s overseas journey on the Miss Earth’s profile page on Instagram @missearth_sa #MissEarth2024 Make-Up was done by, ‘Beauty by Rica’; hair was done by ‘Hair In Stoffels Chair’ and L’ANZA Healing Hair SA.

For more information on the Miss Earth South Africa, be sure to follow us on the platforms below. Instagram:

@missearth_sa // Twitter: @missearth_sa // Facebook: Miss Earth South Africa // TikTok: @missearth_sa

#Nisha67 Campaign Over. Thank you all for the support.

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“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

Last night my Nisha 67 Campaign benefitting Breath of Life ended with a net amount of R47 943 (I think I will only know the final amount by Monday but I’m approximately correct)(the gross amount is R51 559). A HUGE HUGE THANK YOU to my family, friends and even strangers who came together to make this happen.

A special mention must also go to Tom & Tori Horse and Heart Stables who did a 22 km horse ride on my behalf in aid of Breath of Life on September 16th- thank you soooooooooooo much.

BackABuddy will transfer the money to Breath of Life on October 14th and Breath of Life will use the money for baby care essentials as well as to cover the operating expenses of the house – electricity, water, salaries, etc.

Sustainable Fashion Warrior Takes Miss Earth South Africa Title…

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The Sandton Convention Centre was alive and illuminating with the magic of South African designers on Saturday night when Jessica Nel of Centurion was announced Miss Earth South Africa 2024 as the leadership programme celebrated its 21 Years of Impact. Four exceptional women who have demonstrated their commitment to protecting and conserving our precious natural environment will now continue their green journey as earth warriors for the nation.

Jessica Nel is a passionate advocate for sustainable fashion, a Graphic Designer and Social Media Manager by Day, Nel also has her national colours for choir, she is a drum majorette star and her advance diving licence. She is a thrill seeker at heart with horse-riding, sky-diving and deep sea-diving amongst her favourite hobbies.

The 25-year-old beauty is flanked by Joy Magagula, a lawyer from Cape Town, Justine Munusamy of Ekurhuleni and Thembisile Mathebula of Johannesburg who is an art student whose passion for art and sustainability is pulpable.

The Miss Earth South Africa leadership programme proudly celebrated its’ 21^st anniversary at the gala dinner hosted by Southern Sun, a longtime partner of the organisation. More than an ordinary beauty pageant, Miss Earth South Africa has been at the forefront of promoting environmental sustainability and empowering young women to be environmental advocates.

For two decades, Miss Earth has been a global platform that showcases not only the graceful elegance of its finalists but also their dedication to making their country a greener, more sustainable place. This unique programme encourages participants to actively engage in community activities that address critical environmental issues, thereby fostering a sense of responsibility and sustainability. The winners of this year’s Miss Earth South Africa have not only exemplified active citizenry but have also embraced the ideals of environmental stewardship. Their dedication to community and environmental causes is a testament to the programme’s mission and its impact over the past twenty years.

Amongst endless achievements, the organisation is proud of the 57 000 trees they have planted to date and the extensive environmental, educational and sustainability projects spearheaded by the organisation. Their #WasteStopsWithME, #SaveWater and many other campaigns have fitted perfectly into a national agenda of climate action and the year that lies ahead will be no different.

The National Finalists and Winners have been spoilt with gifts and treatments from Skin Renewal, Europa Art, Lanza by Bloom brands, Crystal Forum provided customised gifts for the evening as well as gorgeous CrystalPJewellery for the finalists, judges and winners. Padel sessions from 10×20 Padel Courts, Cinema tickets for the year from Cine Centre, magnificent flower bouquets from Lou Lou D, Treatments from Astro Spa, Silverlining gumboots, gifts from Panier Des Sens, Perfumes from Bach and Co. and David Green Eyewear. Gifts from C-Spa, Iwori Products and Nestle also filled their gift bags.

The winner receives luggage from Samsonite and will be flown to the 2024 International Miss Earth event by Cathay Pacific, their international airline partner. The international event will be staged in Manila, Philippines on November 9, 2024.

African Anthology has been a long-standing partner of this leadership programme and hosted finalists at Kubu in Hoedspruit earlier this year, with a keen focus on conservation and wildlife preservation. GebCo 3sixty and Wildroute Environmental have been proud greening partners to the organisation and alongside Servest,

Newsclip Media Monitoring and SAPPI.

The gala dinner hosted by Southern Sun was beautifully executed with eventing partners such as 321 Systems, Over The Top Eventing, Two-Way Exhibition and Events and world class jazz entertainment by George Sax. Finalists make-up was done by students of Face2Face International Beauty and Make-Up Academy and hair was done by ‘Hair In Stoffels Chair’ and Lanza.

This leadership programme remains committed to its core values of promoting environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability. The programme’s continued success reflects the global community’s growing awareness of the urgent need to protect our natural world in the fight against climate change. In the year ahead the organisation will continue to focus on clean-up campaigns across the country, sustainability empowered workshops for the communities in which they have strong holds, environmental advocacy in their schools and a continued focus on waste, ocean protection, food security, fast fashion and sustainability initiatives.

We congratulate the four extraordinary winners of this year’s Miss Earth South Africa and commend them for their dedication to creating a more environmentally sustainable future. Their achievements embody the essence of Miss Earth – leadership with a purpose.

Zama Mbatha; Former Winner 2023; Catherine Constantinides; Kayan Leung Former Winner; Jessica Nel, Miss Earth South Africa 2024; Candy Tothill, Head of Marketing at Southern Sun; Joy Magagula, Runner Up; Justine Munusamy, Second Runner Up; Thembi Mathebula, Third Runner Up; Duduzile Mbobo, Former Winner 2023.

For more information on the Miss Earth South Africa, be sure to follow us on the platforms below.

Instagram: @missearth_sa

Twitter: @missearth_sa

Facebook: Miss Earth South Africa

TikTok: @missearth_sa

Miss Earth South Africa Celebrates 21 Years of Impact

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The Miss Earth South Africa programme plants 21 trees celebrating 21 Years of Impact

In celebration of Arbour Month and World Tourism Day, the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership programme; embarked on a tree planting initiative that captured the spirit of environmental stewardship and community engagement.

The initiative took place in the heart of Soweto, where a dedicated team of volunteers, local community members, and our sustainability partners; Samsonite, Afritree and Gebco; gathered at Lulama Primary School and Asha Dawn Pre-Primary School. The day was marked by the planting of 21 trees. The Karee Tree was chosen as it is the tree of the year. This tree provides food for birds and insects; thus enhancing the local biodiversity and in years to come it will support and restore the region’s ecological balance, while at the same time creating a natural soil stabilisation and increasing infiltration of the soil, thus reducing erosion and raising the levels of the water table. These indigenous trees create a greener environmental space.

Catherine Constantinides; the director of the Miss Earth South Africa; stated that; “Arbour Month is a time to reflect on the importance of trees and their role in our environment. We are thrilled to be part of this movement, making a tangible impact by planting trees that will contribute to our community for years to come.” She also added, “We are grateful to be working with Samsonite, Afritree and Gebco, in this community which is so close to our hearts.”

The day was filled with educational activities aimed at raising awareness pertaining to the benefits of tree planting and the vital role that trees play in combating climate change. Attendees participated in workshops and discussions led by environmental experts, who emphasised the need for collective action to preserve our planet in the words of Ella Bella Leite; co-director of the organisation; “Our objective is to serve people and to serve planet. We must focus on a greener way of life in everything that we do.”

This initiative not only contributed to the beautification of the local landscape but also reinforced the organisation’s dedication to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and climate action. The success of the event underscored the power of grassroots efforts in driving positive change and inspired many to take actionable steps toward protecting our planet.

The Miss Earth South Africa is proud to have planted 56 267 trees across South Africa in the past two decades. Mr Lucas Khumalo, the principal of Lulama Primary stated that, “We love to work with the Miss Earth South Africa and are excited to be the recipient school for this year’s arbour planting. I believe that a productive environment, leads to a productive education. We are also proud to be starting an orchard of fruit trees together. Twelve fruit trees have been planted and this will add to our school’s food kitchen.”

Miss Earth South Africa will be announced at the Southern Sun, Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday, 5^th October. Please follow us on social media @missearth_sa.

Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Riding for Breath of Life and Nisha

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I’m very excited to announce that on September 16th Tom & Tori Horse and Heart Stables will be riding 22kms on my behalf (from Cintsa West to Cefani and back) in aid of Breath of Life. The ride will aim to raise R67 000 for Breath of Life and we are currently at R33 844. This ride is significant for me because my new dream is to horse ride but it would be unsafe for me to do so without a specialized saddle and so while we work on that Tom and his team will be riding on my behalf in aid of Breath of Life . Please support this ride at backabuddy.co.za/nisha-67

Mia le Roux makes history as first hearing-impaired Miss South Africa

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Mia Le Roux (L) is crowned by 2023 Miss South Africa Natasha Joubert (R) on stage at the 2024 Miss South Africa final at SunBet Arena in Pretoria. (MARCO LONGARI / AFP)

Mia le Roux makes history as first hearing-impaired Miss South Africa

The 28-year-old model and marketing manager who was representing the Western Cape is the first Miss South Africa who is hard of hearing. According to her profile on the Miss South Africa website, Le Roux, who was born in Sasolburg in the Free State, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one.

The part-time B Com Marketing student describes herself as resilient, dedicated, graceful and kind.

An Open Letter to Mia le Roux

Dear Mia,

Congratulations on becoming Miss South Africa 2024. Thank you for having the courage to put yourself out there and because you did you now have the chance to make the world inclusive for all of us who are different. Congratulations, I’m so proud of you…for the first time in my life I feel represented in the mainstream media

Yours with Gratitude,

Nisha Varghese

Help me serve Breath of Life this Mandela Month #Nisha67

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“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”― Mahatma Gandhi

On July 18th South Africa celebrates Nelson’s Mandela’s 67-year legacy of service by doing 67 minutes of service. This year for Mandela Month and Mandela Day my goal is to raise R67 000 for the Breath of Life house. For more information or to make a donation please visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/nisha-67

Ella Bella Hits the MasterChef SA Kitchen

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The sizzling fifth season of MasterChef South Africa moves into the show’s new home on S3 (formerly SABC3) on Saturday, 13 July at 19:30, with repeat broadcasts on SABC2 on Sundays at 18:30 and another chance to catch up on all the reality show cooking action on S3 on Wednesdays at 18:00.

MasterChef South Africa Season 5 features 20 amateur chefs from across Mzansi with diverse backgrounds and different food dreams.

Among these cooks are seven strong contenders, ready to slice and dice, bake and butter up the judges with their delicious meals.

One of this year’s TOP 20 MasterChef Contestants is the effervescent, Ella Bella Constantinides-Leite, she holds a Master’s degree in Dramatic Arts and Education from the University of the Witwatersrand, is of Greek descent, married the Portuguese love of her life and chose beautiful Sesotho and isiZulu names for her two children. She is the director of the Miss Earth South Africa Leadership and Empowerment Programme, which celebrates their 21^st year of sustainability and greening. She is a teacher, environmentalist, philanthropist and a foodie ready to take the MasterChef kitchen by storm.

This colourful home cook from Bedfordview is also a dynamic environmentalist who teaches in all corners of the country as part of the Miss Earth SA initiative; educating children and adults about biodiversity, recycling and preserving our national heritage and cleaver ways to upcycle and reuse their waste.

As such, she initiates projects ranging from planting trees and creating sustainable vegetable gardens to recycling projects, cleaning rivers and beaches, and feeding people in different communities weekly through the Merchants of Light, NGO that her and her sister, Catherine Constantinides started during COVID when the need for food was so desperate in communities.

With these bits of Ella Bella’s background, it makes perfect sense that she describes herself as the kitchen queen of leftovers.

“My food style is Mediterranean with a splash of South African fusion, like Baklava with Rooibos infused syrup- it’s delish”, she adds, “and I have mastered sneaking veggies into all kinds of experimental dishes for the good of my family’s health and wellbeing.”

It brings her immense joy to host large dinner parties targeting the diverse taste buds of the mix of cultures and ages of her multitude of friends and Portu-Greek relatives. She speaks a little isiZulu, Xhosa and can say hello, goodbye, my name is, thank you and a I love you in about 5 more languages.

Food is indeed a gift in Ella Bella’s eyes, and if she wins the competition, you might just see The Ella Bella Food Trucks on their way to the empty bellies in many communities to give a little hope, love and light to those in need.

ELLA BELLA

Socials: @EllaBellaLeite

Hashtags: #TeamEllaBella #MasterChefSA

Hair: Lanza Haircare South Africa

Skin Care: Skin Renewal SA

Nails: Thandi’s Nails in Bedfordview

Meet the Amazing River Savante on The Power of Stories Podcast

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“I want women to know that it’s so important to speak your truth and stand up for yourself and your dreams and your passions and goals.” – River Savante

Recently I heard the story of 16-year-old mountaineer and adventurer, River Savante, on The Power of Stories Podcast and I was so inspired by her story that I had to share it. Listen to River on The Power of Stories podcast episode below:

11 Lessons from The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma

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“Gratitude is the antidote to fear. And a gateway practice into prosperity.” – Robin Sharma, The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life

Yesterday I finished reading The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma and by the last page I wanted to cry because I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend who reminded that I was already wealthy in many ways (I was already doing most of the things mentioned in the book i just doing most of the things mentioned in the book I just didn’t know they were habits of wealth the world told me the were habits of the naive but apparently not). Below I’ve listed some of my favorite lessons from The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma:

11 Lessons from The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma

1. When you’re with people treat it like the last time you might see them (because it just might be life is fragile)

2.Your life reflects you – in other words, your other life is a reflection of the inner work you’ve done on your mind, heart, health and spirit

3.BE GRATEFUL – send thank you notes and gifts in abundance

4. Be kind and generous

5. Be humble – even the old tree bows as it ages. Are you prouder than a 150 year old tree?

6. Put your last days first – fast forward to your deathbed think about what contribution you would like to make then rewind to present day and do – I wrote my future obituary years ago and it helps me to remember how to live

7. Be a perfect moment creator – make breakfast with family, watch the sunset, eat great food.. anything just create moments intentionally

8. A great work ethic without a great rest ethic is not sustainable – doing something is not better than doing something they are just two different things

9. Bless your money as you send it out and ask it to come to you a hundred fold

10. Self-worth increases net worth

11. The one who reads most wins