It’s the twinkle in her eye that lights up the room. On set, Bryoni Govnder shines a spotlight on what it means to take the world stage with grace, poise and elegance.
Dazzling. Outstanding. A shining star – these are some of the words that have been used to describe her from the day she was crowned runner-up for Miss SA. Since then, she’s gone on to stand on business on the local and international stage. There’s simply no stopping her.
Our cover star Bryoni Govender is proof that dreams should not have limits. Just a few weeks after she made the top three in the most popular beauty pageant in SA, she went on to represent our country on the Miss Universe platform, effortlessly placing in the top 20 out of 84 different countries. A few months after that, Bryoni went on to hold the South African flag high as she represented us at the Miss Supranational 2024 pageant, placing in the top 10, earning the Miss Supranational Africa crown as well as being voted Contestant’s Choice. In this short space of time, Bryoni has gone from local lawyer to international icon. And she’s just getting started. Yet, behind all the glamour of the bright lights and cameras, Bryoni remains one of the most endearing and authentic women to grace our cover. Her honesty and her originality are what draws us in, sharing the little details of her life in the truest form.
Dear younger Bryoni
Going back a little in time, Bryoni comes from a small family made up of her parents and older brother, making her the baby of the family. Her mum encouraged her to do the things she enjoyed, so when Bryoni was around 14 or 15 years old, she chose to enter her first pageant. It was the first taste of what it meant to be on a platform, modelling in front of a crowd. Her shy self-took over, as she recalls looking down more than up while she strutted her stuff, and while no titles came from this first entry, Bryoni left there feeling more confident in herself. She wanted to explore the pageant world just a little more to understand this inner power it gave her, and build on this confidence boost she just experienced by stepping out of her comfort zone.
One factor it would seem that may hinder her growth, was colourism, which she explains was a significant challenge for her growing up in the Indian community. “Being darker skinned, I often felt less beautiful and less worthy of doing things. It was hard to see someone who looked like me conquer the things I wanted, and felt it was perhaps more common amongst the Indian community,” shares Bryoni. “It made me question my beauty and my place in society.” It is sad to see how common colourism still is amongst many. Fair skin is seen as ‘better’ while darker skin is looked down upon for no other reason than the fact that your skintone has more melanin. Even across the seas – Bollywood, which is the Indian cinema, plays into the idea of fair-skinned beauty over darker tones, and while this is slowly changing for the better, it will take a long time before generations can eradicate colourism as a whole.
BEING DARKER SKINNED, I OFTEN FELT LESS BEAUTIFUL AND LESS WORTHY OF DOING THINGS.
In an Instagram post, Bryoni shared her sentiments regarding the insecurities she felt growing up: “Dear younger Bryoni, you are divinely created. But the world still makes you feel less worthy because of the shade of your skin. It will become your biggest insecurity. But keep going because this will also one day become your superpower. God has many blessings and gifts in store for you! You will become a lawyer and advocate for those who are yet to find their voice, and on 6 July 2024 you will boldly stand on a global platform fully embracing yourself and representing your country, so keep going.”
“My parents have always been, and still are, my biggest supporters,” says Bryoni. “I must be honest, my family’s support never made me feel like ‘societal norms’ mattered and their unwavering support helped me overcome these obstacles by providing a safety net for me with whatever I chose to do in life. As I grew older, I learned to embrace my best self, and felt that it was unique on its own. I focused on self-love above all, and with that, my confidence strengthened. I thought that if I haven’t seen someone who looked like me do these things, then I would be one of the first.”
Looking back to 1997, ex Miss South Africa Kerishnie Naiker was the only other Indian South African to represent our country on a worldwide stage, and of course did our country proud by making it into the Top 10 of Miss Universe. Bryoni adds, “I am grateful to the Miss South Africa platform for providing me a stage to challenge these beauty standards and promote diversity.” With the most recently crowned Mia Le Roux being the first deaf contestant to win the Miss South Africa title, the pageant continues to push diversity in our country.
I THOUGHT THAT IF I HAVEN’T SEEN SOMEONE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME DO THESE THINGS, THEN I WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST.
The pageantry world
Many may ask what relevance pageants hold in today’s society, looking perhaps at the negative side of outer appearance over inner beauty, but Bryoni shares her thoughts on this stating: “There are very few platforms around the world that truly allow women to showcase their talents, intelligence, passion, advocacy (I could go on) and also celebrate it. Pageants give women the opportunity to become empowered, to change the trajectory of their life which, as a result, allow them to go on and become leaders and role models in their communities. For me, this has been a journey of self-discovery and growth. It has empowered me, allowed me to develop new skills and connect with inspiring individuals around the world, which is why I think pageants are still relevant today.”
Bryoni previously mentioned that the goal of entering Miss South Africa was just to grow as a human being, blossom and do her absolute best. “I never imagined that I would be on the international stages representing our country. To me, it shows you to never limit yourself, dream big and believe you can do it,” says Bryoni.
This confidence in her capabilities helped her gain recognition as she glided across the catwalk, moved with elegance and smiled from within for the world to see. Behind the scenes, though, preparing for a pageant is no easy task, it takes weeks if not months of dedication that come together within minutes. Bryoni mentions: “Behind the scenes of
Miss Supranational was a whirlwind of emotions, hard work and most importantly, peace. I felt a sense of ease, having the experience of going to Miss Universe. It was very important to work hard because I was not only representing myself, but all the people of South Africa as well.” It was also nice to hear about the sisterhood created between the ladies. “The camaraderie among the contestants was incredible,” Bryoni says. “We all supported each other throughout the competition which was quite refreshing to experience. I am super proud of my performance and grateful for the wonderful experience. Being named Miss Supranational Africa and the Contestant’s Choice was a tremendous honour, and it motivates me to continue being authentic and advocating for causes close to my heart.”
Down to Earth
While it can be very easy to be caught up in the glitz and glamour of being a public figure, and what it all entails, Bryoni always remembers to stay grounded and authentic, paying homage to her family for their constant care. “My friends and family always keep me in check! They are the first to call me out when they see me going astray, and the first to celebrate my wins. But I love it, because I value their opinion the most. I always try to surround myself with positive and supportive people – this helps keep me grounded and focused on my goals.”
I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO STAY TRUE TO MY VALUES AND WORK HARD – WITH THIS I BELIEVE I CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WORLD.
After the lights and cameras are turned off, it is her family and friends she chooses to be surrounded with, taking comfort in their support. However, when Bryoni is alone and has time to herself, you will find her in a fluffy gown, make-up free, chocolates in one hand and a TV remote in the other, bingeing her favourite reality series (to be honest, this sounds heavenly). And while it is important to keep the momentum going, we always need to take a second and just be in the moment, celebrating our wins, big or small, and rejoicing in the life we’ve created for ourselves. Bryoni’s words of encouragement may resonate with a few of us, “Everyone has a different path, but to never let that bring you down or get to you if things don’t go the way you anticipated. This world has many blessings for you, so it is important to keep going, keep your eye on your vision and never lose sight of where you want to be.”
With that, it was time to look at what the future has in store for her, “The future is bright, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead,” says Bryoni. “I plan to continue working on my brand, whilst incorporating aspects of my career as a lawyer. I think it’s important to stay true to my values and work hard – with this I believe I can make a positive impact on the world.” And with that being said, we stand behind this powerful and beautiful woman who radiates her superpowers inside and out.
Bryoni in a flash
Favourite food? My mum’s mutton curry.
Favourite television series to binge? 90 Day Fiancé.
Dream travel destination? Hawaii.
Your guilty pleasure? Anything sweet!
One make-up item you can’t live without? Basically, anything for my lips.
Which clothing item makes you feel beautiful? A dress. I think it is so feminine and instantly lifts my mood.
Your happy place? The beach – being in the presence of the ocean brings me a sense of peace.
Your best personality trait? Compassion.
Any pets? Yes, two doggies (a German Shepherd and a Yorkshire Terrier), who have become my life.
Your best self-love act? Getting my hair done.
Favourite hobby? Painting.
By: Yashna Balwanth
Photographer: Zhann Solomons
Photography assistant: Austin Taylor
Stylist assistants: Mia Smith, Calista Da Luz, Tina Tshangela
Hair & Make-up: Monique Naude Black
Red dress: House Of Lombardi
Ball gown: Juan William Aria
