Her latest in a long list of beauty contest titles, has given Keegan-Lee Croy, 11, from Hanover Park, the opportunity to take part in an international contest, but she needs help in getting there.
Keegan-Lee, affectionately known as “Apple”, has won many titles, and has over 50 crowns. In April, she was crowned Miss PreTeen South Africa and Miss Universe South Africa. She won best ramp interview, best interview wear, and she was the overall best of the best junior winner from all the provinces.
Her grandmother, Daphne Croy, said Keegan-Lee now qualifies to take part in the international competition, Little Miss World, Little Miss Universe and Little Miss Globe, which takes place in Turkey next year. However, in order to get her there, they would need
R140 000. This amount must be paid by December this year.
The Grade 6 pupil’s school, St Raphael’s Primary, has been supporting her whenever they could, but for her latest fund-raising initiative, they need all the help they can get.
Her teacher, Craig Smith, described Keegan-Lee as a bubbly child who is always willing to help her peers. “She is an extrovert and is not shy to ask if she is unsure about anything. She is just always prepared to go the extra mile for her classmates. If one of them missed out on school, she is the one who tells them what they need to do. In class there is no special treatment from her peers just because she has won all these beauty titles however. She is just their friend,” Mr Smith said.
Although an optimist, the one thing that makes Keegan-Lee sad, is gang violence.
“Part of what I would like to do is to create awareness about how gang violence and abuse affect children. We are the future. We are supposed to be happy and have a bright future, but things like abuse and gang violence rob us of that. I would like to change this and make a difference,” Keegan-Lee said.
Other titles she has won include, second princess for Miss Petite South Africa 2016; Miss Pageant SA Western Cape 2016; Miss Queen of the Cape 2016; second princess for Miss PreTeen South Africa 2017; and Miss Western Cape Champion 2017.