Nineteen-year-old surfer, Joshua Jansen, a familiar face along the local coastline, is preparing for a very different kind of challenge, competing in the finale of Mr Teen World South Africa later this month.
Set to take place on July 26 in Johannesburg, the pageant brings together finalists from across the country in a competition that highlights not just appearance, but also personality, public speaking and community involvement.
Jansen, who is more often seen in boardshorts than formalwear, said entering the pageant wasn’t something he had anticipated. “I never imagined I’d be doing something like this,” he said. “Surfing is still my first love, but I’m excited to take part in Mr Teen.”
The competition, which is part of the World South Africa Pageants network, encourages young men to engage in causes beyond themselves. Jansen has been involved in local beach cleanups and occasionally mentors younger surfers, experiences that he believes have shaped his approach to leadership and self-discipline.
As he prepares for the final round, Jansen said the support from his community has been one of the most encouraging aspects of the journey so far. “It’s been amazing to feel that backing,” he said.
Voting is open to the public, and supporters can help him advance by sending the phrase “WSAP 2096” via SMS to 47439. Each vote costs R3, and there’s no limit to the number of times you can vote.
Jansen shares updates from his journey on Instagram at @jxshjnsn_, while the official pageant account, @worldsouthafricapageants, offers a closer look at the competition behind the scenes.
