11 September 2015 – Newsclip's pro-bono client, Miss Earth South Africa, crowned Carla Viktor as their reigning 2015 earth warrior.
Miss Earth South Africa is crowned annually and is committed to raising awareness among South Africans for environmentally sustainable communities through tree-planting, recycling, energy efficiency and carbon-conscious lifestyle choices.
24-year-old Viktor will represent South Africa in Miss Earth which will be held in Vienna, Austria later this year while continuing her eco-conscious work across the country.
The enchanting event, held at Tsogo Sun’s Rosa venue at the Palazzo Montecasino, boasted a star-studded guest list. Previous Miss Earth Ilze Saunders, Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom, Edith Venter, rugby player Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, Yusuf Abramjee, Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa and Isidingo star Khabonina Qubeka all rubbed shoulders with the 16 finalists.
Rapper Proverb was the MC for the afternoon, cracking jokes about how he was the self-appointed Mr Earth South Africa. But the contestants didn’t agree, officially placing the title on the Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom.
Hanekom applauded all the contestants for their work on the ground as “catalysts of change”. “Google describes Miss Earth as a beauty pageant but I don’t see it as such,” he said. He went on to echo all the finalists’ sentiments that we are all custodians of our planet and subsequently are the only ones who can save it. “We must nurture it because we depend on it, we are the carvers of our own future,” he said.
Catherine and Ella Bella Constantinides, the forces behind Miss Earth South Africa, beamed with pride as Viktor was crowned, but praised each and every one of the finalists for their hard work and dedication to the country and the Earth.
For more information, visit www.missearthsa.co.za. Alternatively connect with them on Facebook or Twitter.