Following in the footsteps of previous winners Nomfundo Mlaba, Nosipho Mhlanga, along with thousands of hopeful entrants, the search for the next Face of Pond’s is on, and this time there is more than one winner!
Open to all South African citizens, the ante is being upped in 2021 in the brand’s quest to give back to communities and fans alike. In the history of the competition, only one hopeful entrant was selected as the Face of Pond’s. This year, three entrants will be given the chance to represent the number one skincare brand in the world for a year, while using this platform to express and celebrate their authenticity and unique beauty.
Apart from the winners walking away with the sought-after title as Faces of Pond’s and prizes to the value of over R50 000 each, the brand wants to ignite a renewed love for selfcare, face care and overall feelings of acceptance and self confidence amongst South Africans.
“After taking a brief hiatus, we are excited to once again search for - and more importantly celebrate - the diverse beauty that is a true reflection of our country,” says Sphelele Mjadu, Senior PR Lead for Africa, Unilever Beauty and Personal Care.
The beauty industry is seen as contributing to the spread of narrow beauty ideals and seven in ten (71%) South Africans think that the industry is pressurising people into thinking they need to look a certain way. As a champion for diversity and inclusion, stretching beyond age, gender, and background, we want to challenge these norms and encourage all South Africans to enter the competition and own their beautiful.”
The competition, which launched on 1 July 2021, ends at midnight on Thursday, 30 September 2021. South Africans who wish to secure their spot in the competition need to purchase any Pond’s product, complete an online entry form, submit a hi-res image, and maintain their proof of purchase. All participants are also allowed to enter the competition as many times as they wish, provided that each entry is associated with a separate Pond’s till slip and unique barcode.
As part of a thorough selection process conducted by a panel of judges and brand representatives, entries will be cut down to top 50 finalists in the weeks post the competition closing. Following this, the top 20 will be announced, and the public will vote for their favourites via the Pond’s South Africa website. The new Faces of Pond’s will be announced on Thursday, 25 November 2021.
Commenting on her experience, Nomfundo Mlaba (Face of Pond’s 2019), shares more about her journey, “The Face of Pond’s competition has changed the trajectory of my life. Not only has it provided me with the opportunity to represent the brand, but it has also given me the platform to inspire and reach so many South Africans through social media, expanding my portfolio to collaborate with other brands, and giving hope to young hopefuls from my community, Ezibomvini in Pietermaritzburg.
I am grateful to the brand for supporting me in more ways than I ever imagined possible, and I want to encourage everyone to enter this competition and make their dreams a reality. If a hometown girl from KZN like myself could do it, you too could shoot for the stars!”
The new Faces of Pond’s will walk away with the following prizes:
To follow the conversation on social media, find Pond’s on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and join the conversation using #nextfaceofponds.