Local beauty Laura Franzman-Botha is set to shine; she has made it to the semi-finals of Mrs South Africa 2023.
The Vredenburger received the news on Friday (3 February) after the national casting event at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. After the announcement, the semi-finalists took part in a two-day conference filled with motivational talks, workshops, upskilling sessions, socialising and networking opportunities
According to Franzman-Botha, the announcement came as a wonderful surprise. “I was nervous, elated, scared, excited. I felt all of the emotions and was in a state of shock.”
Mrs South Africa is seen as a self-discovery and empowerment programme that celebrates diversity, ambition and confidence while showcasing some of the country’s most phenomenal and talented women and giving them the skills and tools needed to achieve their dreams.
Joani Johnson, CEO of Mrs SA, says: “We are proud to work alongside so many strong, formidable, and inspirational married women, and to empower them through our pillars of community, self-development, and networking to be the leaders and social game-changers that we need in this country.
“Our experienced mentors teach leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, self-promotion, and self-discovery throughout the year to ensure that all participants have a truly life changing experience.”
Franzman-Botha explained she entered Mrs South Africa to find out more about herself.
“I am a mum, a wife and an IT specialist.
“I have always wondered about my reason for being. I entered to discover my why, to upskill myself, meet like-minded women, and to show my kids and the larger community, that with hard work and determination you can reach your goal.”
As part of her journey she hopes to reach the top ten, raise awareness and encourage Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) sufferers, and inspire other women to step out of their comfort zone and realize it is never too late to start empowering themselves and chase after dreams.
According to Johnson this year the casting panel was looking for women who had a keen interest in empowering others, display strong family values and were passionate about making a difference in their community and the world.
“Franzman-Botha fully embodied the values that Mrs SA holds most dear and is representative of our tagline for the year: #EveryWoman.
“We look forward to going on this journey with her and her fellow sisters,” concluded Johnson.
. Be sure to follow Franzman-Botha’s journey on the Mrs South Africa Instagram and Facebook pages.
