As someone who has spent her life in the modelling and beauty industry, I understand what it means to represent one’s country at international events. In 1982, the late Marina Maponya was South Africa Business Woman of the year. The following year, I had the honour of achieving the same award.
In 1986, Marina and I proudly represented our country at an international women’s conference, the C200 in Boston, USA. And that was during Apartheid! We used the opportunity to raise our voices to fight for democracy, and to speak against the hatred of the other.
I tell you this story as just one example of the ability and power of woman to promote peace and bring about a more just society. In a column in Daily Sun, the Deputy Editor, asks Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane, on which side of history is she on, with regard to the Middle East conflict.
However, he doesn’t even give her the possibility of an answer. Instead, he has the temerity to tell her what to say and what to think. Indeed, he is forcing his stance on the Middle East conflict on this young lady.
ALSO READ: WHICH SIDE OF HISTORY IS MISS SA ON?
Here is the crux. He is asking a beautiful young woman, who has worked hard to get to where she is today, to give up her dreams to represent her country, simply because she may not agree with his interpretation of the complex Israel – Palestine conflict. He further suggests that she has no opinion of her own. What arrogance!
It has been proven over the years that women are the main protagonists for peace. This was the case here in South Africa, and it is the case too, in the Middle East. For the past decade, I have had the honour to work with both Israeli and Palestinian women at grass-roots level, women for whom I have enormous respect. Not only do they want peace, they are actively working towards it.
More recently, I was part of the delegation to bring to SA, Women Wage Peace, to South Africa (https://womenwagepeace.org.il/en/). The delegation included Muslim, Christian and Jewish women who met with government representatives, political parties, inter-faith and other women organisations. All they spoke to agreed that women’s voices need to be heard.
Lalela has the right to decide to go to Israel and see the situation there for herself. She’d be one of 70 young woman from across the world who are participating.
Women’s voices need to be heard, not silenced. Lalela has the power to speak out for peace and should do so as a proud South African at the pageant.
As a woman, I call on Lalela to go to Eilat, represent our beautiful country, and bring home the crown.
- Reeva Forman is CEO of Reeva Beauty and Health and a member of the South African Jewish Board Deputies.
