Daily Sun (March 31 2015) - GROWING up in a poor struggling community, Liesl Laurie's story is one of beating the odds.
It's also a story of a loving family who stand together even in tough times.
TWO YEARS AGO SHE HELPED HER MUM CONQUER A DRUG HABIT!
Daily Sun spoke to the mother of the newly crowned Miss SA from Eldorado Park.
"Life was tough while I battled my drug addiction," said an emotional Karen Laurie.
"My kids never stopped believing in me and that is what helped me to overcome the obstacles in my life."
Speaking about her daughter's achievement, she said: "When I heard the news, I froze!
"I couldn't breathe!
" I realised my baby no longer belongs to her mommy, she belongs to South Africa."
Liesl told Daily Sun it was tough helping her mum fight drugs.
"It was such a dark and tough time. I kept asking myself what was so bad in her life that made her do this. I am proud of her for moving past it," she said.
Liesl said her father was never involved in her life but she felt blessed to be raised by her gogo and her mother.
She said there was a time when her mum wasn't working but her gogo was always there for them. "I sometimes felt embarassed by my mum's drug habit but she overcame it and I am proud of her," Liesl said.
"At UJ I studied for a degree, but in Eldorado Park I learnt about life."
She said in Eldo's, Joburg, every parent is your parent.
"They treat you like their own child because they care," she said.
"I thank my family for always being with me in my battle to get where I am now."
Liesl is involved with Babies Behind Bars, a foundation which works in prisons to take care of babies whose mothers are in jail.
"I came across it when I was in Miss Soweto. I researched the organisation and decided to volunteer," she said. She is also looking forward to getting involved in the Take a Girl Child To Work project.
Liesl said she wants to remind every young girl never to forget her dreams.
"Everything you are doing at the moment is preparing you for your journey."
At a media breakfast held yesterday at Sun City, Liesl cried as she thanked everyone who has ever been a part of her journey.
"I'm so happy and grateful. I always dreamt about being here, but now that I am here, it's hard to believe."
See the Daily Sun's new website for more on this and other stories....
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