In a night of glamour and women empowerment, Wild Coast Sun’s Cynthia Nene brought honour to the South Coast as she was crowned Mrs Bold 2024 on October 26.
The glittering event took place in Johannesburg, where the 42-year-old Marketing Manager triumphed over 11 finalists to claim the title, embodying the spirit of authenticity, self-development and community service that the pageant champions.
As a divorced mother of two sons and a daughter, Nene’s journey to the crown began when her daughter, Zandy, spotted the competition on Facebook and encouraged her to enter. “She said, ‘Mommy, this one is for you,’ and she was right,” Nene said.
Mrs Bold is a platform for women who are married, divorced, widowed or single with children, to showcase their achievements and contributions to society.
The competition kicked off in February with a workshop which brought together 40 entrants from across South Africa. “It was explained to us that 70% of the marks would be allocated from our journey leading up to the crowning, for social media, charity work and self-development initiatives, so we knew exactly what was required,” Nene said.
She took the challenge to heart, engaging in various charitable endeavours including two beach clean-ups in conjunction with Wild Coast Sun, and motivational talks at schools. “I ran an Easter Campaign for Umzuvukile Special Care Centre for disabled children, asking businesses and members of the public for assistance to ensuring they had a memorable and special Easter. Armed with donations of toys, lunch, and Easter eggs, Nene arrived at the Care Centre on Easter Monday and spread joy. In May, her “Wheels of Hope” campaign successfully provided wheelchairs to those in need.
Balancing charitable commitments with academic pursuits, Nene graduates in December with a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration from Wits University. “This year has been incredibly busy but rewarding,” she said.
“I have grown both personally and professionally, and feel like completely different person – a better person – and hope that my story will motivate others.”
As the reigning Mrs Bold, Nene will compete at an international pageant in 2025.
“My journey has been one of self-discovery, resilience, and empowerment, and I would like to thank my employer Sun International for their support throughout this adventure. I look forward continuing my work in uplifting our community and inspiring others.”