Bryoni Govender shimmered as she walked down the ramp during the Elegance Round of the Preliminary Evaluation for the judging of the 68 Miss Supranational 2024 contestants in Nowy Sącz in Poland.

A vision in motion in a myriad shades of green, light sparkled off her bejewelled dress as she sashayed across the long platform, her liquid bronze skin serving as the backdrop for a dress so magnificent it caused a gasp in the audience.

Govender, our official representative at the Polish pageant, was wearing a Juan William Aria art piece that had taken 200 hours to put together. A whopping 55 000 crystals were hand placed and beaded – crystals in shades of emerald, forest, sage, thistle, olive, mint, chartreuse, lime, juniper, shamrock and fern.

Dress designer Aria has worked with the Miss South Africa Organisation before, producing gorgeous gowns for winning contestants. But this gown was special.

Govender’s adoring public had chosen the colour green, a shade that works well with her honeyed skin tones, and Aria had added the pizzazz of movement so that every step she took, her dress swayed and danced, catching the light and coming to life.

Earlier in the evening, Govender had walked with flair in the Confidence Round, dressed in a gold bathing costume.

Miss Supranational 2024 will be the 15th edition of that country’s pageant and will be held on Saturday (July 6, 2024). Andrea Aguilera of Ecuador will crown her successor at the end of the event. South African viewers can watch on the Miss Supranational YouTube channel.

The Preliminary Round counts for 40% of the evaluation process.