Women From South Africa

"Our mindset is to stay focused, disciplined and also be consistent with everything we are doing, not stopping our physicality going direct to them"

"I believe we’re moving in the right direction, and starting not to hold back against New Zealand."

"It won’t be easy, but it’s the journey that shapes you and builds your character. Along the way, you’ll be reminded of your ‘why,’ and that’s what will keep you going."

"Certainly, we get a boost from representing Africa as champions at the World Cup. It's a reminder of what we can do if we remain committed, united, and believe in ourselves"

"We understand that we come from various different backgrounds, but we are able to have a beautiful melting pot of different cultures and different characters even. We tap into that and embrace that because we are South African."

"The World Cup, however, is a whole new level and requires even more of us. Not only will we participate, but we want to compete, proudly represent Africa, and push ourselves to the limit"

"I’ve been in the system for about a decade, and this is probably the pinnacle of it. It’s been a big honour to be on that journey for so long, and to witness the growth and depth of the squad. I think there’s a lot of improvement in terms of how well the system has been invested in."

"We’ve developed an edge- a competitive edge. There’s just an overall better understanding as to what it means to be a professional athlete. All these factors contribute to the quality of the group that we are now and to where we’re headed."

"Rugby has changed my life, and for the best, I don’t come from a great background, but with rugby, I know how to take care of my family and myself. There are a lot of things that rugby has changed for me. I am very grateful that I chose this sport. It came into my life and did good things."

"The World Cup preparations are really going well, the intensity in training has been high, there’s strong sense of focus and unity in the group."

"They always have something to say about playing rugby, but it is a sport for all sizes and shapes. Anyone is welcome to play rugby because it accommodates everyone."

"They would say, ‘It is a man-dominated sport.’ I wanted something that would challenge me, something different from netball and soccer — something that was different. They say rugby is not for women."

"I enjoy the freedom. You can do anything you want on the field, provided it is legal. Maybe if you have anger issues, you can sort that out. There are a lot of things, and you have fun while doing them."

"The knowledge that I can compete at this level was just such a boost and for me the biggest achievement of my life. Look, no prop scrums alone, so it is not about me, but it was great to force my opponent to concede penalties and for our forwards to enjoy dominance over a highly-rated French pack."

"There are going to be a lot of people with a lot of experience at the tournament. I will learn through them. Seeing players that I look up to there is going to be something else. I want to enjoy every moment"

"I think the reason I went for rugby is because people were asking, ‘Why would a woman take up rugby?’ That is why I went for it."

"You get to experience other cultures through it. There are different cultures around the world that you can learn from"

"It's important that we build on last weekend’s performance. Our mindset is to stay focused, disciplined and also be consistent with everything we are doing, not stopping our physicality going direct to them."

"We struggled through our obstacles, stood up after difficult times and gave hope to so many countries where equality is a struggle. This shows us that we are capable of great things and we are resilient"

"The fact [is] that we as humans don’t realise how much potential we have to do good, give and make things right. How amazing would it be if we all realised our potential"

"I am the University of the Free State’s first successful test tube baby. One of the greatest gifts anyone can receive is the gift of a healthy life. With my passion for giving, people and health, I will be able to contribute to one of the most important things any country desires: health for all"

"They just tore all the unnecessary details away from life. They got to the core of building a heart-to-heart connection and being there for one another. They ground me in who I am"

"I believe that very often, we turn to people to crown us with a title – ‘you’re good enough’ or ‘you’re pretty enough’ – and we always wait for someone else to put that crown on our heads"

"It’s about becoming the queen of your life, instead of trying to be the queen for everyone else and fit into their boxes."

"They brought me back to enjoying every moment, seeing its beauty and embracing everything as an adventure"

"The biggest lesson I learnt from being raised in a small town is that you might not have all the opportunities there, but when you do get one, you should grab it with both hands"

"It was all about what you look like, whereas pageants and Miss South Africa was more holistic. It’s about using your unique skills and talents to really make a difference"

"True beauty lies in how you affect other people"

"We tried to not overthink the goodbyes, but rather saw them as an opportunity for the heart to grow fonder again"

"We chose each other and chose to trust one another, to be gentle, and to put in the hard work"

"We had to learn how to live in the present, and decided to embrace every season and moment"

"I did my master’s in philosophy and studied leadership coaching to develop a model for women who struggle with their self-confidence. I use this model in a lot of the keynote talks, workshops and seminars I do, and in the business talks I give with my husband"

"It was a childhood dream that came true and as big an honor as it is, it is still a responsibility…But it’s also not the destination; it’s the beginning of a new journey"

"If you look at beauty, it fades. What we are working on is a legacy that will last beyond our lives. If you really look at what Miss World has achieved in raising millions of dollars for charities, you’ll see that we’re making a big difference in people’s lives."

"I actually do my own hair and make-up which comes in handy because I don’t always have someone. I have someone who helps with styling, Werner Wessels, and he’s been helping me [from] before I became Miss South Africa. My style is kind of the way you tell a story without people being able to speak to you. My style icon is Princess Kate Middleton"

"The thing I will always remember from this experience is the different cultures I got to experience. We ate Thai food every night in [Maeya Nonthawan Thongleng] Miss Thailand’s room. The US is very popular for their sweets, so Miss USA [Elizabeth Safrit] brought a lot of sweets for us to try… Miss Australia [Courtney Thorpe] was probably my best friend – people actually said that we look alike. It’s so funny because she’s amazing at doing make-up and I was good at doing hair so we helped each other for the final"

"Everything happens twice, the first time in your mind and then in reality."

"I’m a test-tube baby"

"I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. Maybe because of the fact that I was a test-tube baby, maybe because of the fact that my parents were very passionate about health"

"It’s part of who I am, part of what I want to be. I want to be able to practice and I also want to start a business that focuses on women’s health…I like the holistic approach to women’s health and my health because I believe that your mind and body are interlinked and connected so if you look after you mind you automatically look after your body, also vice versa"

"In life, you get a lot of platforms to do good, to reach for your dreams and have a positive influence on other people’s lives as well. Whether it’s through education, being a doctor, or others have the platform of being good at sports. That way, I’ve received the platform of Miss World and I’m going to use it to do good"

"Johan has been on the board for several years. I've observed his interactions with Alan over time. It's always interesting to see someone transition from an executive to a non-executive director role. Johan has been quite mindful of this. I've worked with him in a different context before, and I believe having experienced bankers on the board is crucial. They challenge us constructively, and I look forward to working with them."

"I had done some vacation jobs at PwC during my studies and when I signed up to do articles, so I had a two week advantage over most people in my group. During articles I gained great experience in the financial services sector, especially working in insurance, working with firms like Fedsure, African Life, Alexander Forbes and Regent Life."

"During articles I used to win the awards for the most productive employee in my group and billing hours is what counts at a firm like PwC."

"Jacques has been leading FNB for 10 years successfully. He has now been given a new mandate to develop future business models. He is a builder. We are counting on his skills to build something new and exciting."

"During the last year of articles I was given a lot of responsibility, because I was always dedicated to ensuring I add value and go the extra mile for the client. The quality of the companies I worked with on audits was high and I worked with some really smart PwC people, some of whom I am still in contact with now."

"While it's crucial to use every opportunity to learn, I was never complacent. I focused on doing my best rather than being preoccupied with leadership succession."

"The core business philosophy of owner management is still deeply ingrained in our culture. We believe in empowering exceptional people, giving them ownership and trusting them to deliver. This ethos continues to attract talent, which we're very proud of. When I joined in 2018, a company-wide survey showed that this culture is still very much alive and valued across all our jurisdictions."

"I joined FirstRand for the opportunity to get into banking. I was also drawn to the opportunity to work closely with Alan Pullinger, whom I held in high regard. It was a compelling and exciting opportunity that leveraged my experience with risk and compliance. Alan's sponsorship was also a factor, but I always operated with the mindset that I was there to learn. I'm grateful for the board's decision."

"So being an entrepreneur for me, I think it started with problem solving because even when you get into business, they tell you it’s all about solving a problem."