Little Miss World

Micaéla van der Merwe (9) was born in Bethlehem, Free State, and raised in the Lindley district. She lives in Burgersfort and is the first South African to became Little Miss World. She was crowned the winner last year in Antalya, Turkey. The daughter of Mari and Tienie won the Little Miss World South Africa pageant and was entered in the 2007 Little Miss World pageant. With coaching from her modelling teachers, Amanda Smith and Brandon Kriel from Amoné Modelling Academy, and he rendition of the song The Best of Both Worlds from Hannah Montana, she was a sure winner. Micaéla is home-schooled and has 22 pets. She enjoys watching Animal Planet and wants to open her own animal hospice. Her granny, Lorraine Wessels, and her uncle and aunt, Tienie and Mrs Yolandé Hurter, are very proud of her.