Ms Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was welcomed with great fanfare in her hometown of Sedgefield on the Garden Route in the Western Cape on Sunday.
She arrived for a brief visit for the first time since winning the prestigious title in November last year and will be returning to New York, where is currently based, on Monday. The local beauty grew up in the small holiday town and said she was excited to be back on home soil, even if it was just briefly.
“Home is where the heart is and my heart is in Sedgefield,” Nel-Peters said during a lunch held in her honour at Montecello Restaurant.
The lunch was attended by several family members and friends as well as VIP guests, including Knysna mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies. Nel-Peters said she had been overwhelmed by the support from “back home” throughout the pageant process.
After meeting and greeting her supporters, Nel-Peters was whisked away for a parade through the streets of Sedgefield. Locals and visitors lined the streets of the small town to catch a glimpse of her. Various organisations and groups joined in the festivities, following Nel-Peters on brightly coloured floats, or walking behind her singing and dancing.
Nel-Peters said she was honoured to have been given the opportunity to bring the crown back to South Africa after 40 years. Following the parade, she addressed the crowd gathered on the Sedgefield Primary School sports field to thank everyone for the warm welcome.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity Ms Universe organisers have created for people like me to inspire others. I hope that this also shows everyone, especially the little ones here today, that you should always reach for your dreams. With hard work and dedication anything is possible,” Nel-Peters said.
One of the Nel-Peters’s supporters came prepared with a “Welcome Home” poster, saying it was admirable that the beauty queen had not forgotten her roots. “She is doing wonderful things all over the world, so taking the time to come home and spend some time with friends and family is a beautiful thing,” Jacques de Villiers said.
One of the younger fans, Jesse Mathews, 11, said Nel-Peters was her "hero", as she had shown that even “small town girls could make it big”.
- African News Agency (ANA),
