Beautiful, bubbly and ambitious, 15-year-old Emily Arthur was crowned the first Miss Teen Ballito at the end of last year. Here’s a little more about the lovely inaugural pageant winner …
Tell us about yourself and your family
We are a close, busy, active and energetic family of three exuberant females and Tim. My sister Kimberley is 10 months older than me, and even though we are similar in many ways, we do have our fundamental differences, which contributes to our spicy family life. We have grown up on the North Coast and are very involved in the family tourism and holiday letting business, where we help checking guests in and out of our beachfront properties.
What prompted you to enter Miss Ballito Teen?
I participated in my very first pageant, the KZN Miss Ambassador Contest, at the age of 6. I entered Miss Ballito Teen to make a difference through community service.
What was the Miss Ballito Teen experience like?
Thanks to the great organisers, Karen Landman and Heidie Smith, the experience was fantastic. The pageant was well-organised and included workshops, seminars, training, interviews and community projects, which proved to be most beneficial and empowering.
What do you hope to achieve as the first Miss Ballito Teen?
I want to show teenagers that going into the community and making a difference is more important than gravitating towards their addictive social media devices.
Who do you look up to, and why?
Although most girls would immediately say their mom (and yes, I am instinctively driven to say ‘my amazing mom’), a true inspiration in my life is my 87-year-old grandpa. He has been my mentor, role model, guide and a true example of a Christian who walks-the-talk and eloquently talks-the walk!
What do you hope to do after school?
I’m still quite undecided, but right now I’m aiming towards architecture. Who knows though … in a few years’ time there may be a new job description which doesn’t exist yet.
What are three things not many people know about you?
I am truly a spicy variation of Caucasian, Asian, Lebanese and Mediterranean. I could sing perfectly in tune and remember the words of songs from the age of two. I rescue abandoned puppies/dogs and look after them until they are re-homed.
If you could meet one celebrity in person, who would it be and why?
The one celebrity I would love to meet is Neymar Jr. the Brazilian professional footballer. His talent is superb, he’s got all the tricks in the book, can dribble well, has good speed and even better acceleration. He can shoot with precision, take free kicks with ease and displays his unmissable swagger when celebrating his goals. If Messi is the Gift of God and Ronaldo the brute machine, Neymar really is the rockstar of football!
Photographs: SAM’S Photography
