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Cape Town – Former Miss South Africa, Marilyn Ramos, on Tuesday released a press statement hitting back at a well-known local tabloid for calling her the “worst Miss SA ever”.
Ramos did not identify the magazine and said that their “derogatory comments” was a “personal attack” on her as a person.
“It shocked and saddened me, and with the encouragement of those people close to me, I decided it was time to share my side of the story,” Ramos said.
"Don't get me wrong; even though I wouldn't change anything from the year of me wearing the crown, I would be lying if I said everything came easy. More often than not, I was presented with some major obstacles that I had to overcome all by myself.
“Because of these obstacles people are still asking questions like 'why were you so rarely seen in the media and public eye?'; 'Is it true that you were more than often unavailable telephonically?' and 'What exactly happened at Miss World and Miss Universe?'”
She had no PR:
According to Ramos she was hardly ever seen in the media during her year as SA’s most beautiful because there was no PR in place for Miss SA 2012.
“The events, charities and other initiatives I had done went unseen to the public. No one was sending out press releases of my doings, creating the warped perception that I wasn't fulfilling my duties as Miss SA.
“A PR team was only put in place when the Miss SA 2014 search started, and clearly focused on the 2014 pageant. The events I attended were a combination of what the Miss SA Offices arranged and invitations I received in my own personal capacity. But despite all this I tirelessly focused all my energy on the various charities I was responsible for.”
She had nothing to wear:
Ramos also added that she did not have a clothing sponsor even though she was always expected to look her best at glitzy events.
“This dilemma reached a critical climax when it came to the Miss World (hosted in Bali) and Miss Universe (hosted in Moscow) pageants. With minimal support once again, it came down to my parents and family drives (to raise money) to pay for almost everything, including 90 outfits (gowns, national costumes etc), national gifts, contestant gifts and R23 000 excess luggage, just to name a few.
“My family and I had only 4 weeks in between the two international competitions to prepare for Miss Universe, a time frame any industry expert will tell you is almost impossible to achieve. To make everything worse, no one from the organisation even made an effort to come see me off at OR Tambo. I did not let this hinder me.
She wasn't the worst:
“I still went ahead and represented my country to the best of my abilities. The fact that I didn't place at either pageant wasn't because of anything I did or didn't do. I tried my utmost best, poured my heart and soul into it, and firmly believe that it just wasn't my time. I think it is also fair to mention that I was not the only Miss South Africa, that did not place at Internationals; in fact, there were three other Miss South Africa’s that did not place in previous years.
"Perhaps the absence of a South African director played a role while 99% of all contestants had someone from the national organisation present for meetings, events and the final show.”
She did plenty of good:
According to Ramos she did plenty of good. She is currently the ambassador for the Elandela Rhino Trust and was also the ambassador for Cotlands and World Play Day.
Together with Mnet Cares she established a fully equipped mobile toy library and she also worked closely with numerous other foundations including Reach for a Dream, the Sunflower Fund, Soweto Home of the Elderly, Mnet Cares Naledi Literacy Program and 'Sue Lubbe and Friends'.
Ramos did not identify the magazine and said that their “derogatory comments” was a “personal attack” on her as a person.
“It shocked and saddened me, and with the encouragement of those people close to me, I decided it was time to share my side of the story,” Ramos said.
"Don't get me wrong; even though I wouldn't change anything from the year of me wearing the crown, I would be lying if I said everything came easy. More often than not, I was presented with some major obstacles that I had to overcome all by myself.
“Because of these obstacles people are still asking questions like 'why were you so rarely seen in the media and public eye?'; 'Is it true that you were more than often unavailable telephonically?' and 'What exactly happened at Miss World and Miss Universe?'”
She had no PR:
According to Ramos she was hardly ever seen in the media during her year as SA’s most beautiful because there was no PR in place for Miss SA 2012.
“The events, charities and other initiatives I had done went unseen to the public. No one was sending out press releases of my doings, creating the warped perception that I wasn't fulfilling my duties as Miss SA.
“A PR team was only put in place when the Miss SA 2014 search started, and clearly focused on the 2014 pageant. The events I attended were a combination of what the Miss SA Offices arranged and invitations I received in my own personal capacity. But despite all this I tirelessly focused all my energy on the various charities I was responsible for.”
She had nothing to wear:
Ramos also added that she did not have a clothing sponsor even though she was always expected to look her best at glitzy events.
“This dilemma reached a critical climax when it came to the Miss World (hosted in Bali) and Miss Universe (hosted in Moscow) pageants. With minimal support once again, it came down to my parents and family drives (to raise money) to pay for almost everything, including 90 outfits (gowns, national costumes etc), national gifts, contestant gifts and R23 000 excess luggage, just to name a few.
“My family and I had only 4 weeks in between the two international competitions to prepare for Miss Universe, a time frame any industry expert will tell you is almost impossible to achieve. To make everything worse, no one from the organisation even made an effort to come see me off at OR Tambo. I did not let this hinder me.
She wasn't the worst:
“I still went ahead and represented my country to the best of my abilities. The fact that I didn't place at either pageant wasn't because of anything I did or didn't do. I tried my utmost best, poured my heart and soul into it, and firmly believe that it just wasn't my time. I think it is also fair to mention that I was not the only Miss South Africa, that did not place at Internationals; in fact, there were three other Miss South Africa’s that did not place in previous years.
"Perhaps the absence of a South African director played a role while 99% of all contestants had someone from the national organisation present for meetings, events and the final show.”
She did plenty of good:
According to Ramos she did plenty of good. She is currently the ambassador for the Elandela Rhino Trust and was also the ambassador for Cotlands and World Play Day.
Together with Mnet Cares she established a fully equipped mobile toy library and she also worked closely with numerous other foundations including Reach for a Dream, the Sunflower Fund, Soweto Home of the Elderly, Mnet Cares Naledi Literacy Program and 'Sue Lubbe and Friends'.
