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Congratulations to 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧 – class of 2014, ex student from Danville Park Girls high school, the new 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍 at the World Championships Shore Angling for Pairs that took place over a 4 day period in Portugal this November 2021.

Over and above her individual achievement Team South Africa, also came home with the Gold, winning the Team Trophy at the World Championships Shore Angling for Pairs that took place in Tròia, Grândola, Portugal.

The competition at the World Champs was very tough and Team SA had to overcome a lot of COVID red tape to get there and the odds just were not in their favour. Cara was the only woman from South Africa and her pairs partner were already seen as the underdogs but both of them were determined to prove everyone wrong.

We managed to chat to Cara on her return from Portugal.

“The first two days of the competition we were middle of the pack lying in 8th position. Going into day 3 we had a strategy to win our zone so that we could move up a few positions and we achieved the goal of winning the zone, taking us to third overall.”

“I realised that night that we would have to win the day on the last day to win overall, no South African has ever won this competition and no South African team in the last 35 years has brought home a team gold medal. It’s important in these moments to not let the pressure get to you and to keep a calm and clear head. The last day was the longest 4 hours, we managed to stay neck and neck with the current first place winners up until the final cast where we got to fish as the final hooter went. We still were unsure if we had moved ahead as we had to wait on the size of the fish to confirm.”

“When we finally got confirmation, the feeling was indescribable, it felt like the past 10 years of competing was all worth it, I felt proud of myself for proving to all the men that being female is by no means a disadvantage and I hope that from all of this it is the thing that shines the brightest, not that I won the world champion title, but that a FEMALE won. It is a huge honour and privilege to hold this title. I am very blessed to be given the opportunity to go, and by grace.

Team SA came back as reigning champions with Gold and Bronze medals. Congratulations to PS: it’s GOLD & BRONZE #protea #teamSA #shoreangling #worldchampions Jacques Malherbe Cara Cowan Wimpie Barnard Brian McFarlane, Andrew Narainsamy Riyadh Cassim Eben Swanepoel Helder Fernandes José Afonso Dino Carlos Meneses Jace Govender Sachali Viljoen Pierre Viljoen Vimal Ganesh Kishanth Ramsoorooj Ashwin Singh Adiel Behardien #SASAA #SASAAC #winningteam

WRITTEN BY: OMEGA NGEMA

She has the brains, the beauty and the heart, however although Miss India Worldwide, Tanishq Sharma is the subject of millions of adoring fans all over the world today, when she admitted to her maths teacher in high school that she wanted to be Miss India when she grew up, the whole class laughed.

The 26 year old budding beauty from Oman said, because her parents never had boys she ended up being raised as one, and this is why her aspirations for beauty pageant stardom astounded her classmates. She admits, she did not even believe it herself when her name was called out as Miss India worldwide on that September night in Mumbai in 2019.

“I remember I was last in queue and at first I didn’t come out when they called out my name because I thought they were mistaken. I was so shocked,” she said.

Tanishq went for her first beauty pageant training in 2013 and the journey was no easy fete. She recalls a time at the beginning of her pageant career when she went to India for pageant coaching for three months and survived on a packet of cookies and half a litre of milk every day the entire time she was there because she avoided asking her family for money as she knew they were also struggling.

“My upbringing did not involve any luxury. Our father was a government employee and in my country that means he did not earn much money. So my childhood was full of struggle, we had restriction on many things because of our limited budget,” said Tanishq.

However through hard work and determination Tanishq overcame competing with thousands of Indian- origin beauty queens from over 30 countries all over the world and was crowned Miss India worldwide. She has also pursued a career in Bollywood as she said she realised how people always complimented her on how expressive she was in her speech.

After being crowned Miss India Worldwide, Tanishq has travelled all over the world as she had always dreamed and says in as much it has all been filled with wonder and excitement, there have also been some embarrassing and cringe worthy moments.

“I was once so tired I fell asleep during an interview, and this one time I got lost in the New Jersey mall. I have also lost a bag at the airport,” said Tanishq adding that although she considers the pageant organisers Dharmatma Saran Uncle and  Neelam Saran Aunty family.

She said becoming Miss India worldwide has instilled a confidence in herself that she never had before as she recognised her self-worth as she stood on podiums all over the world and was celebrated for being who she is.

During her tenure as Miss India worldwide, which has spun over two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tanishq has been advocating for animal care and the safety of women.   

“I am a firm believer in humanity, hard work, and the spirit of giving. The world is a beautiful creation by God and we all have a role to play. It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that all of God’s creations lives on this earth in peace and harmony,” said Tanishq.