Adriaan bergh biography of donald

MR SOUTH AFRICA 2011 – Adriaan Bergh

Adriaan Bergh – Mr South Africa 2011!
-by Nicolette Ferreira for Vision Magazine

Matthew 5: 14 says that “[a] city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden”. 23-year old Adriaan Bergh was ‘set on a hill’ the moment he was crowned as Mr South Africa 2011. He is the youngest person ever to have won this prestigious title and the light he shines is spreading to every nook and crevice in our country –just as Matthew admonished us nearly 2000 years ago: “Shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Adriaan Bergh, our winsome and warm-hearted new Mr South Africa, spent his childhood years in Bela Bela (formerly known as ‘Warmbad’) in Limpopo Province. Whether you look at Adriaan’s ‘Facebook’ or ‘Twitter’ account, or whether you receive an email from him, his faith in God resembles the hope that the beloved psalmist, David, found in his Lord.

Adriaan is a devoted sportsman: he obtained provincial colours in rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, cross-country and the biathlon. Wow! Have I mentioned that our Mr South Africa is also a very skilled lifeguard, ladies? We would all rather watch Adriaan run the beach than David Hasselhoff!

Mr South Africa is not only sporty (he was a member of the Vodacom Cup Bulls Rugby Squad), but he is also smart: at school he was one of the top ten academic achievers! He credits his parents for teaching him how to live a balanced life. In an interview with the man who was voted our country’s most handsome, hardworking and inspiring man (other than our husbands of course!), Adriaan shared his heart for God and our country with Vision Magazine.

V: You matriculated from Hoërskool Warmbad in 2005. What did you decide to do after school?
A: I studied BSc Quantity Surveying at Tuks (the University of Pretoria) and successfully finished my degree. I am now staying in the Jacaranda

Twenty-four-year-old Adriaan Bergh is your typical heterosexual male overachiever – the sports-mad Head Boy you loved to hate at school but secretly lusted after. Today he’s Mr. South Africa, unbendingly straight but also very, very nice to look at.

This Limpopo-born stud achieved provincial school colours for six different sporting codes, is a qualified lifeguard and was a member of the Vodacom Bulls Rugby Squad until a knee injury forced him out. Adriaan was scouted by a model agency at Cape Town International Airport and he’s never looked back – culminating in winning Mr. SA in February.

Part of his campaign to take the title included a hilarious and controversial online video in which he mocked the typical pageant interview.

Some thought it was serious and didn’t get the humour while others were even more upset when the video appeared on YouTube claiming to be an interview with a Mr. Gay South Africa contestant. Something, Adriaan insists, he had nothing to do with.

He recently told us a little bit more about himself – and, did we mention, he’s really rather nice to look at…

It’s always been a dream of mine to become Mr. South Africa and it was the first competition I have ever entered. Being Mr. South Africa is definitely my biggest achievement yet. It provides me a platform to make a difference.

As Mr. South Africa I want to influence people in a positive way and inspire them to live life to the fullest at all times, no matter what curve balls are thrown to you. My life has changed dramatically; this new so-called “celebrity” lifestyle is still something I need to get use to, but I am really enjoying it!

At school, I was one of the popular guys. You know what it’s like at school; if you are good at sport everybody likes you.

When it comes to the bullying of gay kids, I am totally against the bullying of any person. At school I alway

THE girls at Carter High School couldn’t contain their delight as Mr South Africa, Adriaan Bergh (24), approached the podium to address the school yesterday.

Their screams rang across the hall.

Bergh visited the school as part of his national motivational tour. He is expected to visit 50 schools in 40 days across the country.

“He’s so cute,” one girl whispered. “Can I please get a hug?” “Are you single?” another brave girl asked.

There was a roar when he jokingly told them he would leave his number behind. He worked up a sweat posing for pictures and giving hugs.

However, Mr South Africa had more serious things to share.

He started with a few jokes then told the youngsters that they are never too young to have dreams. He also advised them to work hard, strive to live a balanced lifestyle and get involved in sports.

“I wish I had started having dreams for the future earlier and to live a positive life. At school I was one of those boys that sat at the back, but I regret those moments now,” he added.

His life might look glamorous right now, but achieving one of his biggest dreams, holding the Mr South Africa title, didn’t come easy.

“When I told my friends I wanted to become Mr South Africa they mocked me.

“Imagine this ‘Boerman’ going to my dad to tell him about it. He just said, ‘Son, you can’t be a Mr South Africa. You’re a rugby player and you don’t have the looks’.”

Despite the discouragement he pursued his goal.

Deputy principal Keith Solomons said youngsters need more role models like Bergh.

“This is a positive strategy to motivate our kids. They need inspiration and I believe this is a fruitful exercise,” he added.

Grade 11 pupil Daza Manjoo said: “The talk was nice. He’s a cool and handsome guy.”