Mrs Universe SA hopeful aims to raise awareness
|Published
Last week, Feerouza Kruger, 37, from Summer Greens was selected as a finalist for the Mrs Universe South Africa pageant. Last week, Feerouza Kruger, 37, from Summer Greens was selected as a finalist for the Mrs Universe South Africa pageant.
This Cape mom is ready to strut the catwalk of an international beauty pageant in the hopes of raising awareness about domestic violence in her community.
Last week, Feerouza Kruger, 37, from Summer Greens was selected as a finalist for the Mrs Universe South Africa pageant and says she will use her experience as a neighbourhood watch patroller to raise awareness.
Feerouza is originally from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape and in 2014, she and her husband Naseer, 38, relocated to Summer Greens.
The couple is known for their work in the Summer Greens Neighbourhood Watch, while they and their two daughters, Safia, nine, and Aleeza, two, are also involved in various community projects.
The mom sits on the board of St Luke’s Hospice and the School Governing Body at Woodbridge Primary School.
Feerouza, who is a qualified accountant, says she read about the pageant on social media.
“I saw that this year’s theme was about domestic violence awareness and that caught my attention because it has always been a pet hate of mine,” she explains.
PROUD: With hubby Naseer and their two daughters. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
“As a patroller, we come across these cases every weekend and I see how the next day the women just withdraw the cases out of fear.”
The mom of two dresses modestly but after speaking to organisers, she decided to represent Muslim women by wearing a burkini to show modesty can be beautiful.
This is the first time Feerouza will compete in a beauty pageant.
“I don’t even wear make-up or own lipstick!” she says.
Anel de Swardt, chief executive of Commonwealth Pageants South Africa, says the winner of the pageant will represent South Africa at Mrs Universe.
“There are 80 countries that compete at Mrs Universe annually and it is the biggest Mrs pageant in the world. It will be the first year we are running the South African leg of the competition. The grand finale will be taking place in Johannesburg at the end of August.”
The pageant is open to married, divorced and widowed women between 25 and 50 years old.
Feerouza has selected Matla A Bana, an organisation which provides aid to abused children as her charity and over the next few months will be raising funds for them.
If you would like to assist her, email [email protected].