Twelve-year-old Scarlett van der Merwe has achieved what many seasoned models can only dream of – claiming four pageant titles in a single day.
Competing in the Miss Teen SA 2025 event hosted by Pageants SA in Johannesburg on Monday 6 October, Scarlett won the prestigious Miss Teen SA 2025 and Miss Universe SA 2025 titles. She didn’t stop there, also dominating two additional competitions on the same day to claim the crowns for Miss Supreme Queen 2025 and Miss Ekhuruleni 2025.
The Grade 6 learner’s phenomenal performance has now earned her the incredible opportunity to represent South Africa on the global stage at the World League of Beauty & Fashion in Türkiye next year.
Contrary to the public perception of pageantry, the competition was rigorous and focused on character and poise. For the Miss Teen SA title, the Beaumont Primary learner was judged on a video introduction, her answers to three character-based questions and her performance in the formal attire modelling ramp walk.
Pageants SA maintains strict guidelines, evaluating everything from poise, posture, grooming and personality to ramp technique. Importantly, the organisation enforces a very strict policy regarding age-appropriate attire and a no-make-up rule for girls aged 12 and under, demonstrating that the focus remains on natural talent and character development.
Scarlett’s journey began early; she started pageantry and modelling at age three and has since amassed over 200 titles on national and international levels (“Scarlett stuns on global stage”. DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 9 August 2023).
Her journey has fostered significant personal growth, honing her love for public speaking and earning her two international awards for essays on topics such as “Paying it Forward” and “Character Counts”.
Scarlett uses the platform to promote a strong message: “your voice matters, you matter and your dreams matter”, believing that with hard work and faith, all things are possible.
She believes realising one’s self-worth is the bedrock of success. To spread this message she created Worth reminder bracelets to help others remember their value when they are made to feel less worthy.
Currently training with SA All Star Model Academy in Gordon’s Bay, Scarlett is excited to share her experience and help a new group of local models prepare for the Miss Jr SA 2026 competition next March.
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