Excitement and anxiety are on the rise for the Mr & Miss DUT competition contestants as the clock draws closer to the final stage of the competition.
The annual DUT modelling competition hosted by the Department of Student Governance and the Student Representative Council (SRC) has changed for the better in 2017. Unlike previous years, the preparations for the 2017 competition consisted of intense stages ahead of the big day on Friday, 11 August 2017. Last Wednesday (02 August 2017), the students had to undergo a photoshoot and earlier this week, they had a gruelling pre-judging session attended by their predecessors, Nkululeko Mbatha (Mr DUT 2016/17) and Asilungile Ngcobo (Miss DUT 2016/17).
Talking about the setting of the 2017 competition, Student Governance Administrator and Mr&Miss DUT Organiser Mbali Ntoza said after deliberate consideration on improving the competition, they (organisers) took a decision to try out a new angle to make the competition exciting for everyone.
“We are taking a new angle, whereby we have introduced a mentorship programme for the finalists. In the previous years, it was just about the competition day and that was it. However, we felt that there should be more weight being put on the competition and we aim to groom and develop the winners and participants, hence all these stages ahead of the final day,” she said.
The prizes for the 2017 winners will consist of an opportunity to undergo a coaching and mentorship programme offered by Indoni Models owner, Dereck Mhlongo. Indoni Models has been very instrumental in providing assistance during the preparations for the competition. Mhlongo has also closely worked with each of the finalists during the photoshoot and pre-judging session.
SRC Secretary General Mbuso Sithole said they were happy that changes made in the competition were going to develop students. “The competition needed to be more than just a beauty pageant. We are an academic institution, therefore every aspect that involves students must either develop them or grow them to be better individuals in what they do,” explained Sithole.
The competition is taking place tomorrow (11 August ) at DUT sports centre at 18:30.
Pictured: The finalists of the Mr and Miss DUT Competition.
Nomfundo Ngcobo
