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Miss SA a hot favourite
30/05/2005 08:28 - (SA)
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| Contestants for the Miss Universe 2005 beauty pageant perform on stage during a show of an afternoon dress in Bangkok, Thailand. (Apichart Weerawong, AP) |
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Jeanne-Marie Versluis
Bloemfontein - Miss South Africa Claudia Henkel is apparently one of the favourites to walk off with the Miss Universe crown on Tuesday evening.
Other South African beauties are optimistic about Henkel's chances.
Cape Town model Minki van der Westhuizen phoned from a farm in the Bushveld to voice her support for Claudia.
"I know Claudia well, I have met her on a number of occasions. She is lovely and has a stunning personality and I will be holding thumbs for her."
Vanessa Carreira, Miss South Africa 2001, said Henkel has "the best chance since any Miss South Africa since Margaret Gardiner to walk away with the title."
Gardiner won the Miss Universe crown in 1987 and no Miss South Africa has managed to win the title since. Cindy Nell came third in 2002.
"I met Claudia before she was crowned as Miss South Africa. It was at another beauty pageant where I was a judge. The moment she appeared on stage, I was impressed," Carreira said.
"She was regal and elegant and obviously she won that competition. I approached her afterwards and said she should enter for the Miss South Africa competition." Carreira said Henkel has an unbelievable "stage presence" and "star quality"
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Meanwhile, Henkel is apparently the hot favourite among bookmakers. Her chances are currently rated at 14/1 and 16/1 and her biggest competition is seen as Miss Canada Natalie Glebova at 7/1 and 10/1.
The Miss Universe competition takes place in Thailand this year and will be broadcasted from 17:00 on M-Net on Tuesday evening.
- Volksblad
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