A biography for Demi-Leigh Nel-Petershasn’t been written yet.
“My hair is an important part of who I am and if my hair is healthy and looks great, I feel confident.”
“I think living in the U.S. it has given me an outsider's perspective on South Africa, and something that makes South Africans shine is our warm heartedness, and how we welcome and accept everyone, we are truly a nation of community, who embraces diversity.”
“I had to go to the other side of the world to reach my dreams; it is possible.”
“Being a global ambassador is as much a responsibility as it is an honour.”
“Our nation is comprised of many different backgrounds and cultures, one of the many things that makes me immensely proud to be a South African.”
“I realized that women that stand together and take hands can be unbreakable.”
“I like to read fiction.”
“You don't need a title or a crown or a sash to be able to stand together with other women.”
“I'm a very hard worker, and if I put my mind to something I see it through, no matter what.”
“Just as with the Miss South Africa platform, I understand the responsibility of being Miss Universe and the impact it has on millions of lives.”
“I was the first girl in my high school to be chosen as head girl of both my school and my hoste. I was also elected as the Deputy Junior Mayor of the George City Council in grade 11.”
“I grew up in Sedgefield, which is in the heart of the area along the Garden Route that has been ravaged by fire.”
“I've heard many women say that they were afraid to come out or they were too ashamed to talk about it because they thought it was something they had done to promote the man to sexually harass them - and that is not the case.”
“I managed to escape a violent carjacking. It was a very traumatizing point in my life and it made me realized that many women in South Africa are affected by crimes like this.”
“I rarely had the opportunity to work as a full time model or to pursue a professional career in modelling, because school was always my priority.”
“I came out of a building and this woman stopped me, like, 'You're Miss Universe!' And she was a New Yorker! I'm not used to New Yorkers being fans, because they're so blase about it, you know.”
“I was held up at gunpoint a month after I won Miss South Africa.”
“My half-sister was born without a cerebellum and is completely disabled. She is my biggest motivator and inspiration, because her situation makes me realize how special life is, and I always want to work twice as hard, enjoy life twice as much so that I can enjoy it for her as well.”
“I love to experience a new country's culture and history in a fun and memorable way.”
“Taking good care of my hair is just as important to me as taking good care of my body and soul.”