WeeklySA_AdminSERIES:Dream chaser Palesa Lombard fancies her chances and imagines a future ensconced on the throne…
By Priscilla Malinga
Judges for this year’s Crown Chasers, which started on S3 on June 29, have been announced.
Actress, presenter, voice artist, model, author and entrepreneur Leandie du Randt (who also served as a judge last year), and actress, model, media personality and Metro FM presenter Lerato Kganyago, who makes her debut, are joined each week by a celebrity guest judge.
In the six-episode-60-minute series, the Miss South Africa contestants are placed in real-life scenarios that include challenges based on the four pillars of Miss South Africa pageant – duty, championship, empowerment and beauty. A challenge winner will be chosen each week.
The media recently got a chance for a one-on-one with one of the Top 16 contestants, Palesa Lombard, who trended on social media pages as people claimed that she was not a South African and that they were unhappy with the line-up of the contestants as they thought they were not a true reflection of South African women who should be contesting for the crown.
Palesa Lombard is the daughter of Barbara Lombard, a Soweto-born and raised mother and father Simon Lombard. She was raised by both her parents and comes from a very stable background of parents who awarded her every opportunity through their hard work and determination.
Her father grew up in Alexandra under the apartheid system classified under different racial groups – her father as coloured and mother black.
“It is through their hard work and goals for the betterment of my life,” says Lombard. Today she is able to stand strongly as the woman she is today and fondly looks up to her parents for love and support.
Lombard is currently a final-year medical student and says it was a long journey for her to get to this point as she studied biomedical sciences and did an honours degree in neuroscience, which she then followed up with her current studies from the graduate entry medical programme.
Being a doctor and healing others is always something that she wanted to do as a natural nurturing person.
“My studies have shown the great lengths of vulnerability and dependence people show their doctors and that is something I cherish and never take for granted,” says Lombard.
She also says that, to complement everything patience teaches her on a daily basis, she wants to be the best doctor she could ever be and treat people with sympathy while getting the job done.
“30 years of democracy marks three decades of freedom for the people that look like me,” says Lombard.
It means she was blessed enough to follow the incredible course she has been able to be a part of and access life-changing opportunities such as the Miss SA pageant. Reflecting on a painful past reminds her that those that came before her were denied these opportunities, such as the women who marched in 1976 being the very people that propelled her onto the stage that she stands on today.
According to Lombard, a great Miss South Africa is someone that rises to this remarkable position while being her true authentic self. She connects with all South Africans as diverse as they are through her story and work, hoping everyone is able to see a part of themselves in her.
She hopes she is a beacon of strength and support to many people, shining her light brightest on others. Above all else, she loves her country and its people whole heartedly. If she bags the crown, she plans on creating accessible and acceptable avenues of mental health care for those who need it, throughout her reign as Miss South Africa. A topic she is passionate about and hoping to make accessible to all South Africans, as it is something that she struggles with herself.
In her spare time, she is happiest when she shares a delicious meal with her loved ones and ensures such moments are filled with familial glee to the brim.
She says she is inspired by phenomenal women who have paved and walked this path before her. She learns something new on this journey as she grows daily. She has learned that her life and potential is determined by herself.
“I create happiness and success in my life and everything I put an effort in goes to infinity,” says Lombard. This is why she focuses on the positive aspects.
At the end of each episode, the judges will vote off one contestant, with the remaining contenders going through to participate in the live grand finale at the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on August 10.
Du Randt is delighted to be returning to the series: “It’s such an honour for me. I just love this reality show because it really gives those taking part the opportunity to see what will be expected of them if they are crowned Miss South Africa. The challenges and tests they are put through during the course of the show is a true test of what will be expected of them.”
Her excitement is matched by new judge Kganyago: “It feels absolutely amazing and surreal to be a resident judge for Crown Chasers.
The last word to Kganyago: “I just want to say how excited I am for everyone to see this season. Crown Chasers is more than just a competition; it’s a celebration of women’s strength, beauty and potential.
Let’s enjoy this journey together and cheer on these amazing contestants as they chase their dreams!”
Miss South Africa is presented by Weil Entertainment in association with Sun International. S3 is the official broadcast partner.
