Balancing beauty pageants and Jesus Christ

The story of a real pageant queen and a message from her messy past

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I am so excited to be sharing this beautiful grace story with you. If there's something I learnt it's that God really desires each one of us to know Him intimately. He also desires to use you right where you are! 
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In this interview, Mienke opens up about finding Christ and how He's changed her life within the beauty industry.

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Introducing  Mienke

Mienke van Rooyen wore the Miss Intercontinental SA crown in 2015, and represented South Africa in Germany. She was Miss Free State in 2016 and is still an influential name in the pageant and beauty industry today. She has made her mark on the entertainment industry as well and has various brand ambassador titles behind her name. Mienke holds a degree in B.Com Marketing and is currently busy with her Honours degree in Marketing at the University of the Free State. She is also the co-owner of Mr and Ms Campus UFS (yip, she’s basically heading up a pageant). She is passionate about influencing young women. Somewhere in the midst of all this Mienke became a committed follower of Christ.

​I decided to do an interview with her to discover more of her world and how she balances her role in a beauty driven industry with living for Christ.

Prima Donna Photography

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​You made a commitment to Jesus while wearing the Miss Free State crown. Please share some of that story.

I always knew about this God we’re supposed to serve, but I never knew Him for myself. I grew up in a Christian family. We went to church on Sundays but on Mondays I could easily switch the Jesus switch off. Since 2011 I was in a relationship with a very handsome guy for 5 years. We both would’ve called ourselves “committed” Christians when we started dating, but just as the enemy wanted, we drifted further from God, pursuing the ways of the world. In 2015 I made the decision to stop being involved with anything God related. Nothing about God made sense to my intellectual mind; I placed my confidence in science, my handsome boyfriend and my own survival skills. Consequently this led to a mild depression, for nothing could fill the void in my spirit.

​I tried to use my physical beauty to get me what I wanted in this world. It worked for 2 straight years, trust me it did. I won Miss Intercontinental and Miss Free State! Tell me what girl needs a God if she can represent her country overseas and be the prettiest girl in her province without Him?

"Tell me what girl needs a God if she can represent her country overseas and be the prettiest girl in her province without Him?"

"I realized that this world and its people didn’t have anything left to offer. I knew I had to do something; I had to find something that will satisfy."

​But that year I hit rock bottom. 2016 (The year I won Miss Free State) was the loneliest year of my entire life. The title behind my name served no purpose. Everything I did was in vain, nothing I said had substance. I realized that this world and its people didn’t have anything left to offer. I knew I had to do something; I had to find something that will satisfy. In November 2016, I decided to break up with the guy I thought I would spend my entire life with. I knew that as a couple we couldn’t serve God (I can’t explain the strength it took to utter the words to him. It was certainly by grace alone!). 

​Even after taking such a major step; the beginning of 2017 was very tough. I was caught between pursuing this God people kept encouraging me to pursue and falling back into the ways I knew. Thankfully I had one friend that kept inviting me to church. After much inner conflict I actually joined the church; committed my life to Christ and was changed from the inside out. 

​Today, a year and a half later, I need every girl reading this to know that the cross has the final say. God strategically placed certain people in my life, even when I denied Him in front of those I would need the most. You can do whatever you want to run from Him, but there is no way to escape His love. He will track you down; He will love you through your pride and brokenness. When He knocks, please open up; please allow Him to heal and love you like only He can. After all of this I know I am living proof of His grace, goodness and healing power.

"You can do whatever you want to run from Him, but there is no way to escape His love. He will track you down; He will love you through your pride and brokenness."

​What are some of the challenges you face when striving for holiness in the beauty industry?

Everything they say about this industry is true. It has the potential to suck you in and turn you into a very self absorbed individual. One of my personal challenges is that I constantly need to ask myself where I am being influenced and not influencing the lost. Then I need to distance myself from those individuals or social groups. 

I am a "peoples-pleaser" so for me I need to check myself. I constantly need to investigate my intentions and motives behind decisions and actions. I need to remember that my mission (spreading the Gospel of Jesus) will lead me to my position. You can’t just pursue a position in society and hope to discover your mission there (Matthew 6:33).

"You can’t just pursue a position in society and hope to discover your mission there."

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Are there any advantages in following Jesus in your industry?

Oh yes! Whenever I fail; whenever I receive a “no”; I am able to count it all as joy because I know God’s truth and promises (James 1:2-4). I believe there is something about a business woman who knows her God and what He’s capable of...
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Also, I can honestly say that the peace of the Holy Spirit serves as an umpire in my heart (Colossians 3:15) Through the Spirit I have Godly wisdom and guidance on my side.

What is your view of inward beauty, and what role does it play in who you are?

After all these years of operating in this industry – I can tell you that God has made pretty beautiful woman. Unfortunately, there are some of them I wish I could avoid for the rest of my life. That’s harsh, I know, but it boils my blood when women think it’s okay to disrespect each other. 

"There is NOTHING more beautiful than a woman who is content with who she is and who encourages her sisters to love themselves first."

​God’s currently teaching me on being a Godly woman and preparing me to be God fearing wife. We’ve been called to love each other. (John 13:34) I don’t understand why some ladies can’t just grant others their own place under the sun. No, wait; I do understand. I used to be like that, because of my own insecurities. The enemy uses this to divide us. There is so much power in unity. There is NOTHING more beautiful than a woman who is content with who she is and who encourages her sisters to love themselves first.

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What advice would you give to someone who hopes to enter the beauty industry?

Do not -listen carefully- do not enter this industry thinking it will boost your confidence. The opposite is true. There are many other, more effective ways of boosting one’s confidence.

If you truly believe that this industry needs to be part of your future, by all means, please pursue it.  Just make sure that you are always intentional with what you do and who you interact with. BE THE ONE THAT INFLUENCES. Don’t conform to this world and its norms (Romans 12:2), rather stick to your strengths and make sure that you are very selective on who you allow to speak into your life.
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If you happen to already find yourself in the beauty or entertainment industry; remember to always “take it from who it comes”. Don’t ever take advice from someone you’re not willing to trade places with. 

What are some of the lessons you’ve learnt since committing your life to Jesus?

I’ve learnt so many lessons about life with Christ being a journey not only a destination. But here are 4 important lessons I wish I knew two years ago;
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1. Follow Christ, not Christians. Keep your eyes fixed on the example Jesus has set while He was on earth and not on people who often misrepresent Him. Don’t judge Jesus based on what people do.
2. So many times we experience attacks when we decide to follow Christ. I’ve experienced that after I’ve made decisions to be obedient to God’s Word I suffered most.
3. Your miracle lies on the other side of your obedience.
4. Offence is TAKEN and NOT GIVEN!

​“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11

​How do you wish to inspire other young women?

My biggest dream is that when people think of me they think of love and joy. I realize that my life before Christ hindered people from seeing me this way, but I’m living in grace now. I dream about preaching to hundreds of women on how God turned my mess into a message. The mistakes I’ve made are now all tools in my belt, helping me relate to others.

"The mistakes I’ve made are now all tools in my belt, helping me relate to others."

​I also have a huge passion for business and entrepreneurship, so (depending on what God’s dreams for me are) I would love being a mentor and role model for upcoming female entrepreneurs in South Africa.  I hope to employ programs that teach biblical principles in regards to finances and building sustainable structures to prosper in business.

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​How did Mienke's story inspire you? Please share it with us in a comment below. You're also welcome to share your own testimony!

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