Centurion Beauty makes strides at Car Show

“Modelling is never just about beauty, glitz and glam - behind the scenes it takes dedication, hard work, intelligence, sequence and a bold friendly personality,” said Suraksha Maharaj, 22, from Centurion.

XclusivModz Auto Show (XAS) was hosted on September 23, at the Midrand Corporate Park shopping Centre by Faeez Hassen and Sameer Alli.

Models from Lenasia, Midrand, Laudium and Centurion showed off their talent at the Show and Shine with the bikini car wash and Maharaj the promo girl/model and Sabihah Haffejjee the promo girl.

“It was our first ever Auto Show,” said Hassen.

He said the inspiration behind the show was to bring petrol heads together from all parts of Gauteng and host Show & Shine competition that consisted of the best of JDM, EURO and Old School categories.

According to Hassen the turn – out was massive and had Team BIO from Kimberley who came up for the show.

While, ETunersSA showed off their latest tuned rides. SA Beemer was scouting for some new feature cars as well. XAS2013 is now being planned with a bigger venue in mind!

Rising Sun spoke to Maharaj who experienced this for the first time. She said it was a once in a lifetime experienced filled with knowledge and fun.

And this model knows a lot of about cars too: she can change a flat tyre of a car but also tell you about the different types of engines.

Maharaj is a model since childhood. “I was a little girl and amazing couture has always attracted me,” Maharaj stated.

The model says the person responsible for her gui

dance and passion is her mother Priscilla. Her mom was a model before getting married and she is following in her footsteps. Maharaj adds that her parents and sister are her pillar of strength

With constant determination Maharaj has walked away with many modeling titles and journey’s filled with amazing experience.

She would even stay up till early hours of the morning perfecting that ramp walk to wow the crow.

She has modeled outfits from national such as Haroun Hansrot, Asrif Gati, Susan Hector, Base Jeans and Saajida Asmal. While Danny Daniels, gave her the opportunity to rise and go forth in the powerful industry by walking the ramp in they exquisite collections.

“It has not been an easy road for me and you get both positive and negative criticism. Being an Indian girl it is a tough easy industry due to society,” Maharaj explained.

According to her, she was ready to throw in the heels and glamorous couture for a pair of sneakers and jeans but

once she walked onto the ramp she realized all the hard work and nightmares about falling off the ramp was worth it. The appreciation of the crowd and the designer made all the difficulties fall away and brought me to the shining model she is today.

“My aim for the future is to walk the ramp of New York and London’s fashion week along side South African model Candice Swanepool who is an inspiration to young ladies like myself walking the path of fashion,” she ended.