SA PAGEANTS VETERAN, TELEVISION, EVENTS AND PAGEANT PRODUCER MARK WEST !!!!!

SAPAGEANTSBLOGSPOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTERVIEWING ACCLAIMED SOUTH AFRICAN TELEVISION, PAGEANT AND EVENT PRODUCER MARK WEST...LETS GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GLAMOR AND SIZZLE BEHIND THE TELEVISION CAMERA LENS!!!!
1.Having produced 11 staged Miss South Africa productions, i am sure you have built lasting relationships with many former Miss South Africa's, who is closest to your heart and why?

Basetsane Kumalo and Peggy-Sue Khumalo stand out for me since these girls came from such humble backgrounds. We met them at the regional’s, spoke with them about what
changes they should initiate and they went away and followed our instructions. The end result speaks for itself. I am also very proud of the fact that they seriously achieved after their reign.

2.Which Miss South Africa production did you enjoy most producing and why?

For me personally the pageant of 2000 was my best. I had loads of money (which always helps??), fantastic sponsors, fantastic International entertainment and a really nice set of contestants. Last year however also made an impact since it was the “new change” in pageant format for South Africa. We tried to make the show more relevant to today and the audience response both at the event and television audience showed us that it worked. One has to be careful when changing a tried and tested format!

3.Mark you are one of South Africa's most acclaimed television producers having produced 7 Miss World pageants and 3 international pageants, what would you say separates a winner from the rest?

7 MISS WORLDS-11MISS SA’S-1 MR WORLD-1 MR SOUTH AFRICA-2 MISS ZAMBIA’S-1 MISS SWAZILAND. Certainly in my experience I can tell you that the contestant has to have an ”all round” appeal. The X factor as we call it! She must be able to stand out in a room without any assistance.

4.What advice would you offer young woman wanting to pursue the beauty pageant industry?

Be yourself, be natural! Don’t try to be someone else!

5. As a youngster which beauty queen did you admire most?

Margaret Gardner did it for me!

6. Share some special moments from your experience of years of producing acclaimed pageant productions?

I need 4 days for this ????

7. Miss Universe is looming close, what do you think are current Miss SA Tatum Keshwar's chances of bringing SA its second Miss Universe crown?

I think Tatum stands a very good chance to claim the crown! She has the “X factor” I referred to earlier. She also has physical stature which the Miss Universe Pageant seems to aspire to find.

8. Statistics show South Africa is the most successful nation from the African Continent at international pageants what do you think sets South African beauty queens apart from otherbeauties in Africa?

They are uniquely South African. We have natural beauties in SA. We also invest in our entrants which is very important Internationally.

9. Do you think pageants still have relevance in today's society?

There is no doubt in my mind that the face of pageants is changing! Relevance is dependent on what you want from a pageant? No matter what people say there is still a huge worldwide following.

10.If you could invite any beauty queen from anywhere in the world to dinner, who would you choose and why?

Aishwarya Rai-Bachan. Miss World 1994-She is the quintessential beauty queen. Elegant, graceful and from my past experience fantastic company. I have not me the husband and it would make for interesting talk.

SAPAGEANTSBLOGSPOT THANKS MARK WEST FOR TAKING TIME OUT FROM HIS BUSY SCHEDULE IN ACCOMMODATING THIS INTERVIEW....Photo credits-Peter Morey and Cap Events website