Five minutes with SA's Sexiest Beach Babe contender - Toyah Bennewith

Miss Zag is an online model search to discover SA’s sexiest beach babe, and since going live we’ve been flooded with a bevy of gorgeous entrants in line for the coveted title and grand prize. The winner of the competition will receive a two-year modelling contract with Boss Models, a trip to New York to shoot a portfolio, a trip for her and a partner to shoot the Miss Zag cover in Mozambique, and a fresh quiver of surfboards. A fitting haul for SA’s sexiest beach babe, and if you’re 18 or over, you’re eligible to be in the running. Click here to enter.

Toyah Bennewith was the first of many entrants to sign up, and we took a moment to find out a little more about the 22 year-old Durbanite.

Zigzag: Hi Toyah, cool name by the way. Your pictures you've entered for Miss Zag are great. Are you a model, or did you just do these shoots for fun?
Toyah: Thanks so much. Uhmm I did them for fun, but I really want to be a professional model. It's my dream!

The competition is all about the search for SA's sexiest beach babe. This doesn't mean that Miss Zag has to be a surfer, but we're interested to know if you surf and how often do you find yourself at the beach?
Well I do have a 5'11" surfboard, but I'd be lying if I said that it hasn't been collecting dust :) As for how often I find myself at the beach the answer would be, “not enough”, but I'm a beach bum at heart and I love going down to uShaka beach. My dad actually brought me up on the beach.

Do you have a boyfriend?
Yes, his name is Derrick. I love him to bits and we've been dating for almost two years now. He's really good to me and we’re moving into our very own place soon so I'm very excited for that.

The reason we’re asking about the boyfriend is because one of the main prizes for this competition is a trip for two to Mozambique to shoot a swimsuit calender. So if you won would you take him or someone else?

Of course I would take him. He's my number one fan and supports me all the way, so bring it on.



What was it that you dreamt of becoming while growing up?
I always had a pen and paper in my hand. I love drawing and went to an art college in Shongweni called Edu-Art. I love fashion and being in front of a camera, so I guess I would love to be a fashion designer but my dream would to make it big with photographic modeling. Travelling the world and doing photo shoots. I want to make it to the red carpet!

And how have things turned out?
I just finished filming a reality TV show and I'm now working on my modelling porfolio as well as keeping busy with my day job - I'm a receptionist.

Have you ever used your good looks to get you out of trouble or to get something you want?
Phhhttt, all the time! When I used to go out with my friends they gave me the nickname "Hustler" because I always seemed to get all of us free shooters. Haha.

Cool Toyah, good luck with the rest of the competition. Anything you want to say before you go, now is your chance...
Thanks for giving me this great opportunity and featuring me. It really is a dream come true as I feel that this is what I was born to do.

Click here to check out more of Toyah’s images on her Miss Zag profile.