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UFS alumna Uyleta Nel-Marais takes Mrs Universe SA crown

18 March 2022 | Story Nonkululeko Nxumalo | Photo Supplied

Uyleta Nel-Marais, a former Law student from the University of the Free State (UFS), has been crowned Mrs Universe South Africa 2022 and will be representing SA at the Mrs Universe finals to be held in South Korea in April 2023.

With the aim of inspiring and empowering married and divorced women, crowning for the pageant took place in Pretoria last month. “I cried so much when I heard my name announced as the winner. The first thing I did was wave to my family; their support has been incredible and so important to me on this journey,” she said.

Nel-Marais, who graduated from the UFS in 2015, is the founder of the One Nation: Our Women and Children against Gender-Based Violence initiative, a practising attorney, and director at a law firm in Bloemfontein. When asked how she balances her work and modelling, Nel-Marais emphasised organisation and prioritisation. “You have to plan your week ahead, while also leaving that space open for anything unexpected. Be flexible and organise your time as far as possible.”

Modelling journey

Nel-Marais has never given modelling a thought before. “I was too busy studying,” she laughed. Her journey started in 2019 when she was invited to walk at a fashion show in Boksburg. She later walked the runway during New York Fashion Week in 2020 and took part in Top Model (now known as Opulent Models) that same year. “Modelling wasn’t something I planned, it just happened, and things picked up so quickly,” she stated.

Why she entered Mrs Universe SA

“I enjoy being on the ramp, it’s one of my favourite things to do. My heart has also always been with charities, even before the crown. With this pageant, I saw an opportunity to be on the ramp and make a difference. Why not, I thought. Mrs Universe SA’s biggest aim is to fight gender-based violence, so I knew that this was definitely for me,” she highlighted.

When asked what she would say to that woman who dreams of wearing the Mrs Universe SA crown one day, she replied: “Just do it! Take the chance and just do it. Life is short,” she said. “With COVID, we’ve seen how things can change in the blink of an eye. Stop doubting yourself, grab that opportunity and just do it. What do you have to lose?”

The beauty, who hails from Cradock in the Eastern Cape, hopes to inspire others to believe that they can be anything they want to be through hard work, tenacity, and determination.

Nel-Marais is part of a long list of UFS students who have represented the country in beauty pageants. In 2014, former UFS student Rolene Strauss was crowned Miss World during the international pageant held in the UK, and Thato Mosehle, another alumna, was runner-up in the Miss Supranational pageant held in Poland in 2021.

News Archive

Minister praises the Faculty of Law

2009-02-13

At the launch of the Faculty of Law at the UFS's celebration of 100 years of jurisprudence, under the theme "Iurisprudentia 100", were, from the left: Judge Faan Hancke, Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Criminal and Medical Law and Chairperson of the UFS Council, Judge Lex Mpati, President of the Highest Court of Appeal, Mr Surty, Judge Hendrik Musi, Judge President of the High Court of the Free State, and Prof. Henning.
Photo: Stephen Collett

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Enver Surty, has praised the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) for producing lawyers, academics, judges, etc. of great note.

Mr Surty was guest speaker this week on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein at the launch of the faculty’s celebration of a century of excellence in legal education, training and research at the UFS. The theme of the celebration is “Iurisprudentia 100”.

“The faculty has throughout its existence demonstrated its capability and capacity to produce scholars, legal practitioners, academics, judges, politicians etc, of great note. The university can take pride in the fact that, as an institution, you have done so well,” said Mr Surty.

Mr Surty said that our judiciary must be adequately qualified and it must be representative of our nation. “We must therefore have more aspiring judges in our midst and we must have a more representative judiciary – in race and gender. This is where an institution like the UFS can play an important role,” said Mr Surty.

Mr Surty also commented on the university’s engagement with its communities.
“The UFS has begun to recognise the importance of community engagement. Unless community engagement is part of your curricular activity we would not be able to produce the judges of the caliber we need who are better able to understand the social and economic context of our society,” he said.

According to Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the UFS, the faculty has a distinguished history of excellence in theoretical and practical legal education and training, which can be traced as far back as the establishment of the Grey University College in 1904.

Over the years, student numbers grew considerably and today the faculty has over 2 700 graduate and postgraduate students.

“The faculty prides itself on the fact that some of its students and lecturers went on to hold some of the highest offices in the country. Under its alumni are state presidents, ministers of state, administrators, judges of appeal, judges, rectors, professors and lecturers at the UFS as well as at other universities, advocates, attorneys and legal advisors – in private practice as well as in government,” said Prof. Henning.

The faculty’s “Iurisprudentia 100” celebrations will take place throughout the year with activities such as breakfasts for the various alumni groups of the faculty and a series of inaugural lectures. Cum Laude awards will also be
handed to Judge Lex Mpati, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, and Judge Louis Harms, Deputy President of the Supreme Court Appeal. The celebrations will be concluded in November with a prestige dinner.

Celebration programme:

26 February 2009: Visit by Prof. Fernand de Varennes (of the Murdoch Law School, Perth, Australia),
13 March 2009: Breakfast for all candidate attorneys
18 March 2009: Breakfast for judges and Cum Laude awards
15 May 2009: Breakfast for labour law certificate alumni
11 September 2009: Breakfast for diploma alumni (CFP)
16 October 2009: Breakfast for attorneys and advocates
9-12 November 2009: Inaugural and public lectures
13 November 2009: Centenary dinner

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
18 February 2009

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