Durban’s very own Bianca Candido can now add Mrs. South Africa semifinalist
to her impressive resume as she joins the class of 2023.
Candido received the happy news on Friday, 03 February after the National Casting event at
Emperors Palace, in Johannesburg. Following the announcement, the semi-finalists took part in
a jam-packed two-day conference filled with motivational talks, workshops, upskilling sessions,
socialising and networking opportunities, and an introduction to the famous Mrs. SA sisterhood.
“Hearing the announcement made the dream a little more of a reality, realising I am one step
closer to achieving what I have set out to do for this year 2023 – which is not only being given the
opportunity to give back to my community but also to give back to me,” says Bianca Candido.
Mrs. South Africa is foremost a self-discovery and empowerment program that celebrates
diversity, ambition, and confidence while showcasing some of the country’s most phenomenal
and talented women, and giving them the skills and tools needed to achieve their dreams.
Joani Johnson, CEO of Mrs. SA, says, “We are proud to work alongside so many strong,
formidable, and inspirational married women, and to empower them through our pillars of
community, self-development, and networking to be the leaders and social game-changers that
we need in this country.
“Our experienced mentors teach leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, self-promotion, and
self-discovery throughout the year to ensure that all participants have a true life-changing
experience.”
Sharing more about her decision to enter, Candido says, “as women we so often get lost in being
wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, and employees that we forget, we are also WOMEN! What better
way to empower yourself, than to join a sisterhood that uplifts, motives, and encourages you to be
the best version of yourself, where self-care is not deemed selfish, and being beautiful does not
take anything away from your intellectual capabilities.”
As part of her journey, she hopes to “enlighten, encourage and inspire other women, and girls, to
take a chance on themselves, to embrace all that embodies a strong, capable, intelligent, beautiful
women without apologising for being it all, having it all or wanting it all. We are here for a purpose,
and we need to make a conscious decision to seek out and live that purpose to its fullest.”
“We are blown away by the number of high-quality entries that we received this year, and we are
deeply appreciative to have met so many wonderful women from all walks of life. The National
Casting day was exceptionally difficult, as a substantial number of entrants have what it takes to
make a success of this program,” notes Johnson.
This year, the casting panel was looking for women who have a keen interest in empowering
others, display strong family values, and are passionate about making a difference in their
community and the world.
Candido fully embodies the values that Mrs. SA holds most dear, and is representative of our
tagline for the year: #EveryWoman. We look forward to going on this journey with her and her
fellow sisters,” concludes Johnson.
Olka Bolka had an interview with Bianca to find out more about her.
Tell our readers where you were born and raised, where are you currently live, and about your family.
My name is Bianca Candido and I am 32 years old. I hold a BCom degree in Accounting and Marketing and am working towards completing my BCom Honours in Business Management. I have been fortunate enough to be with my high school sweetheart for the last 15 years, 6 of those years being married. We have two beautiful children together, Daniela (5) and Hunter (2). I was born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu Natal and still firmly believe it’s the best place to live regardless of the bad press it has received lately. Home is where the heart is, and mine rests firmly in KZN.
What did you do after Matric?
I was fortunate enough to obtain a bursary after matric to study part-time, whilst working for the same company that offered me the bursary. I started out in their accounts department as an admin assistant.
What profession do you practice?
I am currently a Property Portfolio Manager for one of the leading property management companies in the country.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
I get interaction with different types of people on a daily basis. Sometimes the issues presented to us as property managers do not have concise answers and we need to research and investigate the best possible solution to the problems presented to us.
What advice would you give to someone starting in your line of work?
Be prepared to put the work in. My line of work is not always easy, and you need to understand that in order to stay motivated and stay positive, you need to put the work in. You need to have understanding and empathy and realise that people’s properties are their investments, and some spend their retirement on their homes. Their issues must be taken seriously and you need to be 100% solution driven.
What is the most memorable / funniest incident you’ve ever experienced in your business?
We do get the strangest complaints from owners, mostly about strange noises from the neighbor’s property or random animal stories such as the neighbor’s goats escaping and climbing onto people’s cars. Who keeps goats in a residential area?
Tell us about yourself in a nutshell.
I’m a real “Nerd”, one of those who always loved to do their homework and studies, and probably too into superhero movies. On the other hand, I am also very interested in fashion design, styling, makeup, and motivational speaking. There are so many things that I still want to do, and so many industries I still want to tap into and explore. I have a curious mind and like to learn as much as possible. I can be quite indecisive at times, and stubborn. I have a tendency to talk too much and without a filter when I am comfortable in a situation (which has landed me in trouble sometimes). But I always try to remain calm and positive regardless of the situation I find myself in – I stay cool, calm, and collected!!
Do you take part in any recreational activities, if yes tell us about them?
Yes, I love spending time outdoors with my family. We go to the beach every weekend, be it to swim or to ride our bikes. I also love horse riding and wish I could do this more often. I also consider myself a “foodie” and am always on the lookout for new places to eat and new foods to try out.
What made you decide to participate in Mrs. South Africa?
I have never been the most confident person, especially as I have had issues with my weight post-pregnancy. This year I decided I am tired of feeling like I am not good enough, or skinny enough. This year is about embracing all of me in order for me to become the best version of myself for myself, and for my family. Mrs. South Africa promotes women’s empowerment by being confident in the skin you are in and knowing that you have an inner strength that cannot be matched once you learn how to love yourself completely – flaws and all.
Which Charity would you like to support?
During the Mrs. SA Casting Workshop, I was introduced to a charity called FAMPRO. Family Protection South Africa, help and support our society’s most weak and vulnerable by fighting for them. They are very much focused on family abuse and helping women and children out of terrible situations by providing them hope and a safe place to recover regardless of their lack of financial resources.
What do you value?
Family, regardless of blood relation or not, I value those closest to me, who have stood by me through thick and thin, and have always encouraged me to keep going even when all I wanted to do was give up.
What is your vision should you win?
Should I win, I wish to establish a platform that allows me to give back to my community. I want to inspire other women, who are perhaps also struggling to find their purpose in life. I want to drive the message across my platform that you are strong enough, beautiful enough, skinny enough, whatever your enough is. As Women, we really need to stand up for what is right. If we can do this, we can make so many positive changes to our families, communities, or even country.
Tell us something no one knows about you.
I’m claustrophobic, I cannot stand tight spaces or be held down for any reason! The inability to move freely is overwhelmingly scary to me.
What inspires you?
Positivity in the most hopeless of spaces, seeing others being positive regardless of their situation is inspiring to me. At times we forgot how blessed we truly are, yet we still find small frivolities to complain about. There are so many less fortunate than we are, yet they wake up, smile and continue on with their day regardless of the obstacles in their way. It’s a reminder to me to be grateful, and stay positive always.
What’s on your bucket list?
I want to travel the world. Especially places rich with ancient histories, such as Egypt, Greece, Mexico, Peru, and China.
What is your WHY in life?
I want to leave a legacy for my children. I want them to grow up in an environment filled with love and wonder. I realized the only way for this to happen, is by working on myself first. Living your true self, finding your purpose, and creating your own happiness and inner peace. A happier me, is a happier wife, a happier mother, sister, and friend. So much emphasis is placed on the man as the head of the household, but if the wife is unhappy, it spills over into all aspects of the family environment. I want to break the generational curse of constantly thinking about survival rather than thinking about seeking out happiness above all. I want to teach this to my children, and hope they continue this legacy of happiness with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. That is my WHY.
When is your birthday?
I am a Leo – my birthday is on the 15th of August.
What is your favorite:
Type of Music: I love all types of music, I grew up in a household where music was played daily from all genres, across all the decades.
Singers: I’m a major Queen Fan! I also love everything from Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, and Elton John to Beyonce, Doja Cat, Selena Gomez, and Tiesto. I love it all!!
Favorite song: I honestly do not have a favorite song, it all depends on the mood I am in.
Movie: Oddly enough, it’s Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock.
Actors: Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks, Liam Neeson, Viola Davis, Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchet. There are too many to mention.
Series: The Witcher, The Mandalorian, I like anything mythical and fantastical. I recently watched the Lord of the Ring Series – The Rings of Power. I absolutely loved it.
Food and drink: Steak medium rare, and Latte’s with whipped cream. Oooh, and also Sushi. I love Sushi.
Relaxation: Can I say sleep? I feel like I do not sleep enough and with two toddlers the opportunity rarely presents itself.
Book: I finished all the Bridgerton Books in one weekend. I’m currently reading Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul. It’s quite an emotional read, so I’m taking my time. I don’t have much time to read, so I will read whatever I can find. Fortunately, we have a small library at work for me to get the occasional book in.
Colour: Red.
Holiday destination: I have always dreamed of going to Greece to see all the ancient ruins.
What do you dislike – name 4 things.
- Dishonesty
- Untidiness
- Bad (Vulgar) language (we all let the occasional word slip, but constantly cussing is something I really dislike)
- Rude behaviour towards service staff.
Where can people find and follow you?
Instagram: @bianca_candido_mrs
Facebook: Bianca Candido – Mrs SA Semi-Finalist 2023.
Tik tok: bianca_candido_mrs.
Be sure to follow Bianca Candido’s journey on the Mrs. South Africa Instagram and Facebook
pages:
Facebook – Bianca Candido – Mrs. SA Semi-Finalist 2023
Instagram – bianca_candido_mrs
ENDS
