The winner and runners-up of Miss Earth South Africa will work on programmes, initiatives and campaigns to play their part in greening our community and the minds of our youth. President of LeadSA, Yusuf Abramjee, crowned this year’s winners and Western Cape beauty Kim Rivalland took top awards. The 24-year-old occupational therapist from Claremont has been working very hard as a finalist over the past nine months, focusing on glass and the health benefits of glass, community greening programmes, sustainable development and the importance of paper and forestry to climate change.

Miss Earth South Africa in association with Consol is an initiative and leadership programme for South African women between the ages of 18 and 26 years. It is a platform that is used to empower these young women with the necessary knowledge and opportunities to become environmental eco-warriors, encouraging them to go out and make a sustainable environmental impact on their communities and the public at large. Finalists and winners receive hands-on experience through being involved in several green campaigns and projects. The initiative currently works with over 120 schools nationwide. Much of the work is focused on greening of townships, food gardens, sustainable development and educational programmes around the country. This year many of the finalists chose to focus on glass as a healthy product of choice, glass recycling, eWaste campaigns and water-wise initiatives.

Rivalland, who was born in KwaZulu-Natal, said, “I aim to focus on sustainable development and being an ambassador for our country as we welcome the UN Climate Change conference to our shores this December. I want to have a meaningful year that changes lives and leaves behind a green footprint that will allow more young people to grow, learn and develop a greener way of living.”

After her year of reign, Kim will represent South Africa at the international Miss Earth competition in South East Asia in November 2012. As part of this year’s judging process, finalists underwent a written exam, their own environmental initiative in their community, as well as a one-on-one interview session with a panel of 16 judges.

Judges this year included the likes of Imperial Toyota CEO, Andrew Miller; Janine Loftie-Eaton from Consol Glass, SANParks representatives, City of Johannesburg Environmental Department representatives, Nambitha Mpulwana, Claudia Henkel and Edith Venter. KwaZulu-Natal finalists took top awards for their extensive greening campaigns and projects. Mbali Makhathini, a water analyst, placed 2nd overall.

As part of the winner's prize package, Kim will drive away in an Imperial Toyota Prius, sponsored by Imperial Toyota, and receives hair care for the year of her reign from Elchim SA and Bijan, as well as make up from Jane Iredale, Camelot International will pamper the winner with treatments, Efergy energy home products and gardening tools and accessories to get her garden and home as green as it can be. JoJo Tanks will also sponsor her with two JoJo Tanks for use at two school community projects of her choice over the next 12 months.

Special thanks to Imperial Toyota, TOTAL, Sappi, AVIS, Newsclip Media Monitoring, HSE Solutions, Crystal Forum, Borsa Di Moda, Cadbury, RED Advertising, SA India, Vimage Media, Thaba Ya Batswana and Wow Events.

2012 will mark the 10th anniversary of Miss Earth South Africa in association with Consol.