Miss SA opens up about her mom's drug addiction
The past week has been a dream come true for the newly crowned Miss South Africa Liesl Laurie.
She's already been on her first official duty as Miss SA in her hometown of Eldorado Park.
Liesl joined the 67 Blankets campaign where she helped knit blankets for girls from the Hadassah Centre for Women in De Deur. The centre helps young women overcome problems such as drug abuse, abuse and prostitution.
Liesl is passionate about empowering young women to believe in themselves and to never give up on their dreams.
Liesl's passion is inspired by her own hardships and her mom's journey of overcoming drug addiction.
Her mom, Karen, who is a high school teacher told Sowetan that her recovery was a long and difficult road for both her children.
Liesl explained that watching her mom overcome the obstacles in her own life taught her so much.
"Watching her go through these obstacles taught me that it doesn't matter how far down you fall. You can always get up, dust yourself and start building again. I salute her," she said.
(Photo: Gallo Images)