ACE MODELS IN STRAND

Ace Models by Joani Johnson comes to the Cape when the Strand branch opens on 01 March. The branch, officially known as Ace Models Cape Winelands, will be managed and run by former Miss SA semi-finalist, Julia Stander Lloyd.

Julia was one of the 30 semi-finalists in the 2002 Miss SA reality show at Sun City which was eventually won by Cindy Nell. In addition, Julia has won a number of local pageants in the late 1990's and early 2000's.

The courses at Ace Models are divided along ages and levels of expertise, and are conveniently scheduled to fit in with school terms so that school holidays are just that, school holidays. The 40 week course is split into two 20 session semesters.

Models and students signed with Ace Models get free entry into all South African Beauties regional pageants, as well as a 50% discount on the entry fee for national pageants. Regional pageants include Mr & Miss Surf (April), Mr & Miss Stellenbosch (June), Mr & Miss Atlantic Coast (October) and Mr & Miss Gordon's Bay (December).

To enquire about the courses, please contact Julia on Facebook. An "open day" will be held at the studio in the Gants Plaza, Strand on Saturday 25 February from 10am to 2pm.

ADIOS URUGUAY

Michelle Gildenhuys bade farewell to her Miss Atlantico Internacional crown in Punta de Este last night and will now return to South Africa to prepare for her pageant swansong at the Miss Supranational pageant in September.

SHEREE PLACES SECOND

Sheree-Lee Gildenhuys came very close to securing back-to-back wins for South Africa when she placed second at the Miss Atlantico Internacional pageant in Punta del Este. The title was won by Miss Venezuela and Miss Spain finished third. Her runner-up placement means that South Africa now has two Top 3 placements in two attempts.

POSTER GIRL LOUISE

South Africa's Louise Muller was a Top 15 semi-finalist at the 2011 Miss Bikini International pageant, and now she is the poster girl for the 2012 Miss Bikini International pageant to be held in August. If you want to follow in her footsteps and compete at the international pageant where more than 70 countries will be represented, you need to enter and win the 2012 Miss Surf pageant to be held in Strand on Easter Saturday.

There is a little catch though: You also need to be at least 1,72m in height. But not meeting the international entry requirement is not the end of the world. If you win, but don't meet the height requirement for the international pageant, you will compete at a leading pageant in Johannesburg as a consolation.

To enter Miss Surf go to the website and download an entry form.

MICHELLE ROCKS COLONIA

The fifth (and final) preliminary contest was held at the Miss Atlantico Internacional pageant in Uruguay last night. And whilst Miss Brazil may have been the queen of the night when she was crowned "International Ambassador of Colonia", the undoubted star of the pageant so far has been the reigning Miss Atlantico Internacional, Michelle Gildenhuys.

SHEREE WINS AWARD

Miss Atlantico SA, Sheree-Lee Gildenhuys, was crowned "International Ambassador Gran Hotel Brias del Hum" in the city of Mercedes last night. She became the fourth preliminary event winner at the pageant. A total of six sponsor awards will be handed out before the final on Saturday night.

The winner and runners-up at the pageant usually, but not necessarily, come from the group of preliminary contest winners. Last year Michelle Gildenhuys won the preliminary event at the Arapey Resort and Spa before being crowned Miss Atlantico Internacional in Punta del Este.

SURF WINNERS TO TRAVEL

Not only will the winners of the Mr & Miss Surf titles join an alumni which includes former winners of national titles, but they could also represent South Africa at the Beach Hunk Model Search and Miss Bikini International pageants respectively.

In addition to the Miss Bikini International title for female contestants, a new male pageant called the Beach Hunk Model Search will be held on the same night as the bikini final. 12 countries have been invited to submit an entry into this competition, and South African Beauties has been appointed to select the representative from South Africa.

Unfortunately the winners of the Mr & Miss Surf titles need to meet certain height requirements for the international competition. Height restrictions of 1,85m and 1,72m have been set for the respective pageants by the international organizers.

Since there are no height restrictions for entry into the Mr & Miss Surf pageant, the highest placed finalists who do meet the international height requirements will compete abroad should the winners not qualify. In that instance, the winners will compete at a pageant in Sun City.

To enter the Mr & Miss Surf pageant, please visit the website and download an entry form.

MICHELLE RETURNS

Miss Atlantico Internacional, Michelle Gildenhuys, returned to the country where she became famous a year ago. Since it is not customary for the reigning titleholder to return to crown her successor at this pageant, Michelle is being treated like a celebrity.

She will be filming promo's for the televised final and will be used as the "face of the pageant" in all publicity leading up to the final to be held in Punta del Este on Saturday 11 February. One of Uruguay's leading fashion designers will be dressing her for all events including the grand final.

After the pageant, Michelle will travel to Spain courtesy of the Miss Atlantico Internacional Organization before returning to South Africa to prepare for the Miss Supranational pageant in September.

SHEREE IN URUGUAY

Sheree-Lee Gildenhuys, Miss Atlantico SA, joined the other 10 contestants who had already arrived in Montevideo at an event to select the International Ambassador New Color, one of 5 preliminary awards to be given at the pageant.

Whilst she did not win this round at the pageant, Sheree is a firm favourite with the local press in Montevideo and along with Misses Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela, should be fighting for the crown on 11 February. Miss Paraguay won the "New Color" award.

The remaining 4 contestants in the field of 15 arrived after this event.

DHESHA AFRICA'S SEXIEST

Miss Supranational SA 2011, Dhesha Jeram, has been adjudged the Sexiest in Africa in the annual Sexiest Woman Alive competition run by leading pageant website, Global Beauties. In the process she beat the reigning Miss Universe, Leila Lopez, to the regional title.

From an initial field of 25 finalists, the field was narrowed down to 7 regional finalists each representing the "7 seas". The online contest pits the sexiest women to have competed in an international or national pageant against one another to determine the sexiest woman alive.

ULTIMATE MODEL SEARCH

With a few exceptions, the Best Model of the World pageant has been held annually since 1988. The model contest, which draws male and female entries from more than 40 countries, is open to models who are married or single, and with or without children.

The Ultimate Model Search aka Best Model of the World SA will be held in July to select South Africa's representatives for the world final later this year. The winners will received an all expenses paid trip to the pageant.

For more details please contact Zee Dyson at upstage.sa@gmail.com.

JUST A YEAR AGO

Michelle Gildenhuys was crowned Miss Atlantico Internacional 2011 on Saturday 12 February 2011. On Saturday 11 February 2012 her younger sister, Sheree-Lee, takes to the stage in the hopes on making it two out of two.

Whilst the odds are stacked against her given that no country has succeeded in achieving back-to-back wins at the pageant, a Top 3 placement is not out of the question if the opinions and predictions of some of the world's leading pageant experts are anything to go by.

Whatever the outcome, I'm certain that our representative will leave her mark at the pageant and make herself and South Africa proud.

ACE IN CAPE WINELANDS

Ace Models, founded by former Mrs South Africa, Joani Johnson, will be opening a branch in the Cape Winelands on 1 March. The modeling school will operate from premises in the Gants Plaza.

The school will be managed and run by former Miss SA semi-finalist, Julia Stander Lloyd, a well-known beauty queen and model from the area.

The branch at Gants Plaza will draw students from the Gordon's Bay, Somerset West, Stellenbosch and Strand quadrangle. In addition to the standard model school modules, classes in TV presenting skills, public speaking and presentation will be offered.

Julia is also a qualified drug and alcohol rehabilitation advisor and will be offering a course in drug and alcohol awareness. For more details, please contact Julia on Facebook.

SUPER SEXY DHESHA

Dhesha Jeram, Miss Supranational SA 2011, has been named one of the Top 25 Sexiest Women Alive for 2011. The "virtual contest" is run annually by leading pageant website, Global Beauties. The list of finalists includes both the winners of the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.

Earlier this month, Dhesha was also in the Top 115 in the Miss Grand Slam contest based on her semi-final appearance at the Miss Supranational pageant in Poland.

MR & MISS SURF

The 46th edition of the Mr & Miss Surf pageant will be held in the Strand in April. There is also a Teen Mr & Miss Surf division, and the pageant will feature a host of local performers and entertainers. There are holidays, gift vouchers and cash prizes to be won.

Since the winners of the Mr & Miss Surf titles will represent South Africa at an international swimwear pageant in China, the pageant is now only open to South African citizens that meet the international entry requirements. The basic requirements are:

MR SURF

* Aged 20 - 26
* At least 1,80m tall

MISS SURF

* Aged 18 - 24
* At least 1.68m tall
* Not pregnant nor have given birth
* Never been married

TEEN MR SURF

* Aged 16 - 19
* At least 1,70m tall

TEEN MISS SURF

* Aged 14 - 17
* At least 1,60m tall
* Not pregnant nor have given birth
* Never been married

There is an entry fee of R100, and 15 finalists will be selected in each of the 4 divisions.

A pre-teen pageant will be held in the afternoon on the same day as the pageant final.

PRE-TEEN PAGEANT

• Junior Mr Surf (12 - 15)
• Junior Miss Surf (11 - 13)
• Young Mr Surf (8 - 11)
• Young Miss Surf (8 - 10)
• Little Mr Surf (5 - 7)
• Little Miss Surf (5 - 7)
• Age group as on day of pageant.
• Proof of date of birth must accompany all entries.

• The entry fee for the pre-teen pageant is R50 per entry.
• There are no preliminary rounds for the pre-teen pageant.

PAGEANT SCHEDULE

10:00 - Pre-teen Pageant
15:00 - Teen Pageant
20:00 - Senior Pageant

For more details go to the pageant website.