PICTURE OF THE WEEK

The Future of the Rainbow

Charnelle Dennis was crowned the first Miss South Africa Teen in October 1999, and now, nine months later, the 19-year-old is preparing to hand over her crown to her successor.

Charnelle hails from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. She was the clear favourite at last year's pageant, with her exotic looks. But Charnelle is not only a beauty; she is somewhat of an academic too, having earned a scholarship for her university studies. This straight-A student is currently studying Law by correspondence through the University of South Africa, and she has placed her prize money in a trust so that she can use it when she studies for her law doctorate later on.

Since being crowned, Charnelle has been bogged down by demands for photographic shoots. She is currently with Cape Town based modelling agency Storm. It's hard to believe that prior to her reign, she had never worked as a model.

In May, she travelled to Cyprus to attend the 2000 Miss Universe Pageant, where she was a companion to the rainbow nation's delegate, Heather Hamilton. And judging from Charnelle's incredible talent, we are sure that in the very near future, Charnelle will be the one up on stage at Miss Universe.

Information adapted from TV Talk magazine, July 2000. (From Charnelle's interview with reporter Raymond Joseph)

Thanks to Michael dos Santos for sharing this photo and information with us.