Beauty through the ages: Kerishnie Naiker (1997)

Image: Gerda Genis

Dynamic, beautiful and ageless, five ex-Miss South Africas share where they have come from and where they are going, in this exclusive feature.

It seemed simple enough: an idea spawned from meeting a dynamic woman (Jane Wuwand, founder of Dermalogica, The International Dermal Institute and, more recently, the joinFITE.org campaign), a must-read book (Half the Sky: How to Change the World) and activist Gloria Steinem’s words, “Do more”.

We, at Longevity, decided we wanted to do more. And, as we are all about empowerment, it seemed logical to team up with Dermalogica to promote and support the joinFITE.org campaign, which aims to lend financial backing to 25 000 female entrepreneurs worldwide in 2011 and 2012. These mirco-loans offer women the opportunity to start up their own businesses, a “hand up, not a hand out”. We approached five dynamic and beautiful ex-Miss South Africas – Nicole Flint (2009), Kerishnie Naiker (1997), Amy Kleinhans-Curd (1992), Wilma van der Bijl (1987) and Karen Sickel (1979) – to be a part of a unique cover shoot (the first of its kind in Longevity’s 18-year history) and charity cocktail event we hosted recently at Sun International’s Table Bay Hotel. They freely gave their time, support and commitment to the project. As Amy Kleinhans-Curd enthused (extremely early at the airport, while waiting to board our flight), “When you think about it, Miss SA is a microcosm of South Africa, a slice of society. Some are married, some are divorced, some are single; some have children, some don’t; some work, some stay at home. Everything that is happening in society today is mirrored through these women.”

Kerishnie Naiker: 1997

Kerishnie is dressed in a shirt and skirt ensemble from Stefanie Morland. Shoes, model's own.

Under Kerishnie’s delicate exterior, lies a strong and determined woman.

Kerishnie smiles when asked why she entered Miss SA. For her it was more than a beauty competition, it was honouring a bet she took with her mother and late father. Growing up, Kerishnie and her sister used to mock the pageantry, saying the contestants seemed vapid, with answers like wanting “world peace”. Her father, a pragmatic man, simply said: “I challenge you to enter and defy the stereotype.” She laughed off her father’s comments and concentrated on her studies. Her father passed away, and his words, all those years ago, filtered back to her.

Kerishnie was a practising pharmacist when she decided to enter the competition. She won, much to her surprise, and decided to use this opportunity and the door now open to her, to reaffirm her commitment to healthcare. Kerishnie openly admits that she has never been one to follow the crowd; she was determined to pave her own way, and she has. She is grateful to her mom for continually encouraging her goals.

She has been a vegetarian since birth, her own personal choice. And due to a high risk of chronic illness that runs in her family, Kerishnie has always made health her priority, both personally and professionally. When studying towards her masters, she wanted to write her thesis on The Social and Behavioural Factors Affecting Tuberculosis in South Africa, a topic she had to fight for. One of the first things she did when crowned Miss SA, was to use her title to promote TB awareness. Having already done the research, she facilitated the TB Free project, in conjunction with former president Nelson Mandela, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the South African government and Sanofi-Aventis, considered to be the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical group. Together, they established nine TB centres, one in each of the nine provinces, as well as mobile TB units, a programme that Kerishnie found rewarding to work on. She founded the Kerishnie Naiker Welfare Initiative, which does not accept monetary donations, preferring to link benefactors and companies to initiatives that need the sponsorship, be it of time, services or products. One such initiative that was close to her heart, was to help facilitate the building of the Chatsworth Youth Centre in 2003.

She tells about the devastation felt by the Indian community in Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal; when 13 school-going children died at an afternoon matinée at Throb Night Club. A combination of  locked fire-escapes, over-crowded attendance and a rival night club detonating teargas in the club, lead to a stampede, which resulted in the deaths. With support from local and international business, Kerishnie helped to facilitate the recreation centre, offering the youth of Chatsworth a variety of activities, including computer skills, additional lessons, music, dancing and career guidance.

She is currently the communications director for Netcare, a job she relishes as she feels the healthcare company is strongly aligned with her own thinking and altruistic initiatives. She describes the 37 rape crisis centres which provide free counselling for a year to victims of rape, as well as emergency contraception and anti-retroviral treatment. “We also afford indigent patients free cataract, craniofacial and cleft lip and palate operations,” she says.

Whilst Kerishnie is passionate about work and philanthropy, she admits that to be able to give of herself fully, she needs to look after herself as well.

She enjoys meditation, yoga, tai chi, quad biking and exercise (although her exercise regime has been curtailed due to a recent neck injury). For her, Cape Town is where she escapes for R&R.

She prefers to use products that are based in science, but have a natural or organic foundation, products that are as good for the environment as they are for her skin.

Finding this balance between home and work is vitally important to her. By re-engerising herself, she is better able to help service her community at large. Her ultimate goal is to provide access to healthcare for all. “It’s a human right,” she smiles.

Skin health through the ages: In your 30s

Skin may be slightly drier and more dehydrated than it was in the 20s, as oil production slows and barrier lipids reduce. Cell turnover also begins to slow in this decade, which can lead to dullness and a less even skin tone, says Guilherme.  Exfoliation, she adds, will also assist possible scars left behind from hormonal breakouts, and hyper-pigmentation (age spots) from UV exposure. Guilherme suggests the Daily Microfoliant, a gentle rice-based enzyme powder with a botanical brightening complex that microfoliates dulling debris and instantly leaves skin noticeably smoother and brighter. Plus, Dermalogica’s PreCleanse will clean off make-up and debris, and dissolve superficial oils without compromising your skin’s barrier function. “This is also the time to start a professional treatment regimen. Visit a skincare centre once every six weeks for skin health maintenance, and pair this with a deep-tissue massage to help relieve stress!”

By Kim Bell

Shot on location at Table Bay hotel: 021 406 5000

Photographer: Gerda Genis
Assisted by: Zac Basson, Craig McGregor, Anikka Netz

Hair: Liz Kaplan, Make-up: Lara Whitehead,
Assistant by: Tremayne West

Fashion:
Tiger of Sweden: Sandton: 011 784 0561, Melrose Arch 011 684 2010
Stefania Morland: Cape town 021 422 2606, www.stefaniamorland.com
Shoes: Aldo, www.aldoshoes.com