THE PAST YEAR HAS CHANGED ME and I can see how its inspiring my daughter

Candice Abrahams talks to Essentials about celebrating women, planning a wedding in four days, and wearing a bikini on stage after two kids…

Candice Abrahams, 33, was born and raised in Durban but now calls Johannesburg her home. The 2016 Mrs South Africa winner works in public relations and she lives in Honeydew with her husband, Ismail, and their two children, Samia, 11, and Taai, six.

The past year has pushed me more out of my comfort zone than I ever expected. 

When I read about the Mrs South Africa pageant, my initial reaction was one of keen interest, accompanied by an excited spark of, 'Yes! I can do this!'. But I'm not a risk-taker, so my excitement soon turned to dread. I thought, 'How am I going to wear a bikini – on a stage – after two kids?'

I have always had a fear of public speaking, but the Mrs South Africa pageant changed that! 

It's so much more than a beauty pageant – it really gave me an opportunity to grow as an individual; it was a journey of self-discovery that pushed me to face my fears. It has been the most challenging, enriching year of my life. I have become stronger and more confident in myself than ever before – I'm so happy with the 'new' me. And now I speak in public for a living!