Feb 23 - Ballito Umhl

Photographs: SAM’S Photography
Meet Miss
Teen Ballito
Beautiful, bubbly and ambitious, 15-year-old
Emily Arthur was crowned the first Miss Teen
Ballito at the end of last year. Here’s a little more
about the lovely inaugural pageant winner ...
Tell us about yourself and your family
We are a close, busy, active and energetic family
of three exuberant females and Tim. My sister
Kimberley is 10 months older than me, and even
though we are similar in many ways, we do have
our fundamental differences, which contributes
to our spicy family life. We have grown up on
the North Coast and are very involved in the
family tourism and holiday letting business,
where we help checking guests in and out of our
beachfront properties.
What prompted you to enter Miss Ballito Teen?
I participated in my very first pageant, the KZN
Miss Ambassador Contest, at the age of 6. I
entered Miss Ballito Teen to make a difference
through community service.
What was the Miss Ballito Teen experience like?
Thanks to the great organisers, Karen Landman
and Heidie Smith, the experience was fantastic.
The pageant was well-organised and included
workshops, seminars, training, interviews and
community projects, which proved to be most
beneficial and empowering.
What do you hope to achieve as the first Miss
Ballito Teen?
I want to show teenagers that going into the
community and making a difference is more
important than gravitating towards their
addictive social media devices.
Who do you look up to, and why?
Although most girls would immediately say their
mom (and yes, I am instinctively driven to say ‘my
amazing mom’), a true inspiration in my life is my
87-year-old grandpa. He has been my mentor, role
model, guide and a true example of a Christian
who walks-the-talk and eloquently talks-the walk!
What do you hope to do after school?
I’m still quite undecided, but right now I’m
aiming towards architecture. Who knows though
… in a few years’ time there may be a new job
description which doesn’t exist yet.
What are three things not many people know
about you?
I am truly a spicy variation of Caucasian, Asian,
Lebanese and Mediterranean. I could sing perfectly
in tune and remember the words of songs from the
age of two. I rescue abandoned puppies/dogs and
look after them until they are re-homed.
If you could meet one celebrity in person, who
would it be and why?
The one celebrity I would love to meet is Neymar
Jr. the Brazilian professional footballer. His talent
is superb, he’s got all the tricks in the book, can
dribble well, has good speed and even better
acceleration. He can shoot with precision, take
free kicks with ease and displays his unmissable
swagger when celebrating his goals. If Messi is
the Gift of God and Ronaldo the brute machine,
Neymar really is the rockstar of football!
February 2023 Get It • Ballito • Umdloti • Umhlanga 31