I felt so privileged to be able to wear my country across my heart and — Bryoni Govender

"It was quite difficult balancing my studies and the competition because I was in my penultimate year of my Law studies so I took some time off to focus on Miss South Africa because on its own it is a full-time job that requires all your attention. I had explained it to my lecturers and they understood and helped me finish the rest of my studies"

"I have seen a woman glow when she heard she had tenancy rights and could not be evicted from her home of 43 years and I have comforted a domestic worker who wept on learning she had legal recourse to summary dismissal and was later awarded a six months’ salary. There are no small victories here. These are monumental life-changing moments and I want to make sure that this happens more and more. I’m a lawyer, so how can I not use my background to empower women to help themselves? All women need to know is that the law is on their side. My mission and pledge is to teach a woman about her legal rights and let her know that information is Her Way Out"

"You may not be successful the first or second time around but if you believe in something, it is so important to never let go of that belief. Sometimes it may not be the right time but if you give up on yourself you won’t realise that. Don’t be afraid to fail, have hope, reevaluate yourself, and try again. If it is for you, it will find you at the right time. This is not just about following your dream but also choosing something to study and following the course"

"I have always believed that being different is a superpower and becoming the second South African of Indian descent to represent our beautiful country on the international stage is a testament to that fact. I will be giving the competition my all and have already started extensive preparations. I cannot describe how excited I am to start this Miss Universe journey and, as this new chapter unfolds, I am fully committed to my support of women equality in South Africa. My advocacy is to address and remove the gaps in the progress of women empowerment by introducing mentorship programmes focusing on business and leadership courses, entrepreneurial and job training programmes and skills development training programmes on secondary to post-tertiary levels of education for girls and women"

"I enjoy it and love embracing my full authentic self"

"As a lawyer I am passionate about empowering women and I have seen how effective our law in South Africa is when it comes to the constitution. I wanted to start an initiative that helps women because they are the most vulnerable group of people in our society and need the most protection. Her Way Out is an initiative that allows women to find their way out. It is specifically targeted at empowering women in their legal rights and helping them to find platforms to better themselves. I’ve partnered with a legal firm and we have been working with Gender Based Violence victims in the courts, and working with women-led initiatives to help them"