Rolene Strauss is Miss World 2014
Forty years after Anneline Kriel was crowned Miss World, and 56 years after Penny Rey won the title, Rolene has taken the crown for South Africa again.
Rolene is a fourth year medical student at the University of the Free State who now lives in Bloemfontein and believes “we are all made with a purpose, a dream that has been planted in our hearts.”
An ecstatic Rolene beat 124 contestants from around the globe and outshined first runner-up Miss Hungary and second runner-up, Miss USA.
In her acceptance speech Rolene said she was both proud and humbled to have won and that her dreams had become reality: “My country is my pride and my purpose has and will always lie within it.”
See the full interview as Miss World 2014 here:
South Africa is beaming with pride and expressed their excitement on social media last night after Rolene was crowned Miss World 2014
Miss South Africa you did us proud!!! Rolene Strauss new Miss World 2014 #MissWorld2014 #ProudlySouthAfrican Man what a day!
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) December 14, 2014
This is a great feat. Congrats to Rolene Strauss. #MissWorld2014
— Dineo Moeketsi (@therealdineo) December 14, 2014
O my gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAaaaaaaaaad!!!! @Official_MissSA miss WORLD 2014!!!!!! Rolene Strauss JOU YSTER!!!!! #MissSouthAfrica #MissWorld2014
— Addington Cele (@AddingtonC) December 14, 2014
So proud to have shared this moment with you! Our #MissWorld2014 @MissWorldLtd @Official_MissSA @RoleneStrauss pic.twitter.com/AQGoYlyEwN
— Melinda Bam (@melindabam) December 15, 2014
Congratulations to our new #MissWorld2014 @RoleneStrauss! You have made us so proud. #MissSouthAfrica #MissWorld pic.twitter.com/0oXCvOTaNE
— Jo-Ann Strauss (@jo_annstrauss) December 14, 2014
Congratulations to the beautiful #RoleneStrauss #MissSouthAfrica who was crowned #MissWorld2014 #SouthAfrica #Proud pic.twitter.com/ZSk5sMFbJl
— Shevaal Singh (@being_shevaal) December 14, 2014
Congratulations to the most beautiful girl in the world!!!! @RoleneStrauss @CellC #MissWorld2014 pic.twitter.com/qoVsBgIOje
— Jeannie D (@Jeannieous) December 14, 2014
Yay I'm so happy that #MissWorld2014 is from South Africa. What a nice thing to distract me from my depression.
— The Kiffness (@TheKiffness) December 14, 2014
I present to you the first Miss world from South Africa #missworld2014 #proudlysa Roelene Strauss… http://t.co/t84AlVbYXm
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) December 14, 2014
"South Africa, this is for you": @RoleneStrauss wins #MissWorld2014 crown. http://t.co/783RPLhe8M pic.twitter.com/G9BhWPwXRm
— CNN (@CNN) December 14, 2014
Let's take a moment from our #BlitzBokke celebrations & wish @RoleneStrauss on being crowned #MissWorld2014 pic.twitter.com/wi5sgGqDn5
— blitzbokke.com (@BlitzBokke) December 14, 2014
Also massive congrats to @BrandenGrace on victory & @RoleneStrauss on becoming #MissWorld2014! #ProudlySouthAfrican weekend!
— Pierre Spies (@Pierrespies8) December 14, 2014
Yeah for @RoleneStrauss for winning #MissWorld2014 - beautiful and crazy intelligent #ProudlySA
— Seline van der Wat (@SelineVW) December 14, 2014
Definitely South Africa taking the crown at @MissWorldLtd! #MissWorld2014 @RoleneStrauss @ECRBreakfast @Official_MissSA
— Natarah Nadesan (@NatarahNadesan) December 14, 2014
"@Official_MissSA: There she is! #MissWorld2014 @MWSouthAfrica! pic.twitter.com/oerMTc1oq1"
— debbie sharratt (@debbie_sharratt) December 14, 2014
"@Abramjee: Rolene Strauss is #MissWorld2014 pic.twitter.com/VdqmhxSMQU" Absolutely gorgeous!!! Well deserved!
— C Constantinides (@ChangeAgentSA) December 14, 2014
Well done @RoleneStrauss on becoming the new miss world.1st ever South African to win it.making us extremely proud.#MissWorld2014
— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) December 14, 2014
Our country is beautiful! #MissSouthAfrica #MissWorld2014 cc @ecrbreakfast @ecr9495 pic.twitter.com/O3DRGpaclI
— Gabriel Sithole (@GabrielSithole) December 14, 2014
In case you missed it Rolene vistited The East Coast Breakfast team a couple of months ago and had the pleasure of chucking water all over Darren Maule:
Congratulations Rolene! We all are so very proud of you.
Follow Rolene's incredible Miss World journey by following her on Twitter @RoleneStrauss Facebook and Instagram