CAPE TOWN – “Don’t look back at your past and hold on to childhood trauma, but decide where you want to go in future and work towards your goal,” is the advice of a Bloubergstrand mother, Giverny Venter, who has just walked away with the coveted title of Mrs Universe South Africa 2026 — the first woman from the Western Cape to win the national title.
The annual Mrs Universe South Africa pageant took place at the Roodepoort Theatre on 19 February. Charlene Kleynhans from Bloemhof in Free State was crowned first runner-up.
Global stage
The 33-year-old Giverny Venter and her runner-up will represent South Africa internationally at Mrs Universe World in Sri Lanka in October, the largest pageant in the world for married and divorced women. They will compete against more than 100 countries on the global stage.
Beyond the crown, she is deeply passionate about mental health advocacy, child protection and breaking generational trauma.
For Venter this milestone feels especially meaningful.
“My journey is rooted in resilience, and I now use my platform to inspire young women and children to believe that their past does not define their future,” she says.
Abusive family system
She was only seven years old when she was taken from her divorced mother and put in the care of her father and her stepmother in the Free State.
“It was an abusive family system and when, at the age of 13, I insisted to come and visit my mother in Cape Town, I saw it as an opportunity to get out. I torn up the return ticket and decided to stay just here. I was told by a friend of Durbanville High School and its hostel. I lived in the hostel from 2006 to 2009, where the residence father, Adriaan Cronje, and his wife, Sanette, became my second family. They have taught me about love and had a great impact on my life. My stay at the hostel was a big turning point in my life,” Venter says.
Venter, who has been married for seven years to her husband, Adrian, whom she has met while still at school. He a learner at Fairmont High School. They have a four-year-old daughter.
She now wants to inspire people to realise that “it does not matter what cards you were dealt, you can decide what you want to do with your life”.
“There are so many people with pain caused by their childhood, but one can stop the cycle and break out of it,” she says.
Life coaching
Venter has done a course in life coaching in 2020, and has been presenting strategic life coaching, in which she teaches people steps and skills to break free from their childhood or other trauma.
Another turning point in her life came three years ago when she started to implement her own techniques in her own life and realised the power of it.
“I want to help other people, especially children, and give them tools for personal development.”
She has already written a few journals, and is currently busy with one aimed at children. She also hopes to present motivational talks at schools.
Domestic violence
“The Mrs Universe South Africa pageant is the first pageant in South Africa in which the contestants take part in a forum on domestic violence and abuse. They impact the lives of abused women and use the Mrs Universe South Africa platform to empower other women. Our title holders are strong and diverse women flying the South African flag high at Mrs Universe annually,” she says.
“The purpose of the pageant is to advocate against domestic violence and abuse, and for contestants to use the platform to grow their networks, reach their life goals and to become the best versions of themselves. Married and divorced women form the backbone of society, and the pageant brings them to the forefront in communities across South Africa. The pageant provides a platform for inspiration, mentoring, and empowerment, and contestants raise awareness for organisations that help victims of domestic abuse and violence,” according to Venter.
- Contact Venter by email to givventer@gmail.com, Visit @the_real_giverny on Instagram and Mrs. Universe SA 2026 Giverny on Facebook for more information.
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