This outjie from Mitchells Plain has made it to the Top 30 of Mr South Africa and is appealing for YOUR vote to help him win the crown.
At 22 years, Anthony Walters is the youngest contestant this year.
The model and qualified chemical analyst says his home circumstances have always encouraged him to “fight for what I want”.
“My parents got divorced when I was seven and then both remarried and my mom got divorced again. So I was basically brought up by a single mom,” he explains.
“I live in Mitchells Plain, observing so much violence, drug selling, people dying and kids being brought up in gangsterism, but I stayed focus and have tunnel vision (when it comes to my future).”
Anthony says it was tough growing up innie Plain, but he pushed through and even self-funded his studies.
“I preferred keeping fit and studying while at school and varsity. My parents never had money to pay for my studies, but I never used that as an excuse to fail.
“I managed to pay out of my own pocket for deposits, and the tuition I’m still paying off.
“While studying, I cast in ads and TV series to make an extra odd to cover my fees.
“Now and then I had to wash cars and so on to make extra cash.
“In my second year, I went to stay with an uncle in Strandfontein to complete my studies and finished successfully, followed by an internship at Chevron Refinery.”
He fell in love with modelling in 2017 and joined the Figures Finesse International Academy.
“In 2017, I won National Model Of The Year with the highest score in Figures history. This allowed me to win an all-paid trip to compete in IMTA South Africa on the MSC cruise ship and I came in the top six in 2018.
Anthony Walters a Cape flat boy from Mitchells Plain was chosen to be part of an international modelling show. Picture: Supplied
“I then went for Mr Western Cape in 2019 and was 1st Prince. My goal for 2020 is to become Mr SA and to represent Mitchells Plain in a positive way.”
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A post shared by Anthony Walters(@anthonywalters_official) on Nov 3, 2019 at 9:49pm PST
Anthony says he also wants to change the negative perception of the male pageant.
“There have been many stories about how the quality of entrants, mainly looks, are dropping every year but I believe I can change that in 2020.
“This competition is not about looks, but the values the contestant shows and how well you represent this country as a man.
“However, I do believe you need to look decent and well taken care of if you want to take on the responsibility of Mr SA.”
To vote for Anthony at the pageant, which will be held in February next year, SMS MRSA105 to 40439
.