AFTER a 15 year break from the modelling world, Mtubatuba’s own beauty queen, Chyrese Coetser, decided to once again take to the catwalk, becoming one of 12 finalists in this year’s Mrs Zululand pageant.
The former Miss Zululand (2000) and Miss South Africa semi-finalist in 2001, hung up her heels so she could get married, settle down and start a family.
‘I don’t at all regret choosing marriage over modelling, but I am happy to be competing in the Mrs Zululand competition this year and looking forward to walking down the runway again,’ said Chyrese.
What prompted her to return to modelling was a severe spell of ill health last year, during which she was hospitalised for weeks and took nine months to recover.
‘I decided it wasn’t too selfish to do something I love for myself and I have the support of my entire family’.
Having started modelling at the age of seven, Chyrese does not only have a long history of modelling, she also had her own modelling agency in Mtubatuba.
Sonja van den Heever, the face of Revlon and Pantene, went through the ranks of Chyrese’s modelling agency before moving on to bigger things.
While walking down the runway at the finals in August does not worry Chyrese, she is slightly nervous about the public speaking aspect.
‘Modelling isn’t limited to the runway, it also involves a great deal of public speaking which does wonders for a person’s self-confidence.’
Winners and runners-up must make provision for one year’s commitments after the event, which entails variety of community events around the region.
‘I’m going to do everything I need to over the next few months to make the grade, but I am going to enjoy modelling again’.
