TAMARYN GREEN NXUMALO ON LIFE AND BECOMING A MOM

Dr Tamaryn Green Nxumalo is more than a former Miss South Africa. We sit down with her to journey through her past and into the future for this mom-to-be

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Being on set with Tamaryn Green Nxumalo is surreal. Sheʼs poised, confident and radiant. It must be that mom-to-be glow. In between shots, we get to know her a little better.

HER MISS SA JOURNEY
Tamaryn grew up in the sweltering heat of Paarl in the Western Cape. Her childhood memories are filled with moments in the community. “Itʼs one of those family-type communities where everyoneʼs just always looking out for everyone. And thereʼs always a door for you to knock on if you need assistance or just want to go for a cup of tea.”

As we continue talking, it becomes clear why she started the interview by saying this. Above all else, Tamaryn values her family and her faith. All the attention that comes with being a former Miss South Africa titleholder just melts away, and at the very centre is a humble human being. It was during her time studying medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT) that Tamaryn entered into the world of modelling. “You know, itʼs quite expensive to study medicine, and thatʼs actually how the modelling came about. I volunteered to do a charity fashion show at UCT and Boss Models basically scouted me there. They offered to do my portfolio and sign me up for free, which was a blessing,” she says.

EVERYTHING THAT I DO HAS FAITH AT THE CENTRE. I THINK I’D REALLY STRUGGLE IF I DIDN’T HAVE FAITH IN ANYTHING

Participating in the Miss South Africa pageant was not even on Tamaryn’s mind, despite being encouraged by her cousin. It was seeing Rolene Strauss being crowned in 2014 that inspired Tamaryn to enter. She saw Rolene and realised that she didn’t have to pick between her dream of being a doctor and becoming Miss SA. She could, in fact, do both.

“Miss South Africa was the most incredible year of my life. I really can still say that. Coming from a small town, not only did it open up my world but my family’s as well.”

While winning Miss South Africa did open many doors for Tamaryn, it was extremely important to her to be a role model for younger girls from her community. “If you want me to say who I am – yes, I have the titles: I am a doctor; previously, Miss South Africa. But I always believe that you are not your title. That is what you do, but its not who you are. Iʼm Christian. I love my family. I love my friends. I believe in always giving back because I’ve been so blessed and lucky. If there’s anything you can do to bless someone else’s life, I believe you should do that.”

Outside of the titles, Tamaryn enthusiastically describes herself as a dog lover, and says she enjoys spending time in nature and experiencing new things. “I actually think Iʼm a little bit of an introverted extrovert because I love my ‘me timeʼ. But then I do reach my battery limit and Iʼm like itʼs time for me to reboot.”

In the time we spend with Tamaryn, she refers to everything she has achieved so far, and any opportunities she has been afforded, as being part of God’s plan. She had originally entered the Miss SA competition in the third year of her medicine degree, but had to withdraw due to a TB diagnosis. “But little did I know that there was a bigger plan for me, because then when I re-entered in my sixth year and I won, TB actually became my main focus and my main campaign, which basically got me travelling around the world as Miss SA.

“Everything that I do has faith at the centre. I think I’d really struggle if I didn’t have faith in anything. Any decision that I make, any new challenge that I take on, I must always have faith that it will happen the way it should.”

FESTIVE CHEER
For Tamaryn, December and the festive season is one of her favourite times of the year. “The sun’s out, you’re wearing dresses, and everyone is just so happy!” she explains with the biggest smile on her face. She usually spends it surrounded by friends, family and lots of food... Sounds like a typical summer in a South African household. “It’s just a beautiful time to spend with family. That is what the festive season is for us... Family,” she says.

Her family’s Christmas tradition is to put presents under the tree and stay up until midnight, when the entire family gathers to open up all the gifts. Christmas Day is spent
at a morning church service and then she and her husband, Zesimdumise Ndwandwe (known as ‘Ze’) Nxumalo, have lunch with both their families.

“We enjoy the gift-giving part of it. We always just make sure that all the kids have a gift. Our families are so big that you can’t buy everyone a gift.”

I’VE BEEN SO BLESSED AND LUCKY. IF THERE’S ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO BLESS SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE, I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD DO THAT

The end of the year also brings with it the opportunity to unwind and recharge for the year ahead. “If I spend time with my family and my friends, I’d generally feel refreshed. I really enjoy going wine tasting with my friends and cousins, driving along the coast, and getting ice cream. Nature rejuvenates me as well, so it’s spending time with my loved ones and then also spending time in nature, whether that is going for a walk on the beach, for a hike or sitting in my garden reading a book. That’s how I unwind.”

This year, Christmas is going to look a little different for the Green-Nxumalo family as Tamaryn and Ze are expecting a baby girl. She shares that they’re planning on enjoying the holiday season in their home as a soon-to- be family of three.

GLOW OF MOTHERHOOD
When I ask how pregnancy has impacted her life, Tamaryn quickly responds: “Significantly.” Just the one word, said with so much unbridled joy and happiness.

“I think the biggest change for me was as a doctor. I thought I’d be more prepared – because we have all the knowledge, we’re always counselling our patients, giving them advice – and when you’re actually experiencing it, it’s very different! It really shifts your perspective and your role. You know that you’ve got a bigger responsibility, something beyond you.”

Tamaryn shares that the part of motherhood that she’s looking forward to the most are all the firsts. “It’s weird, but I am looking forward to the delivery because it will be a first for me, and I just think it’s going to be something so special. From the first time she opens her eyes to the very first time she babbles, and then takes her first steps... It’s going to be such an incredible experience,” Tamaryn says.

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Tamaryn says that if her daughter would like to follow in her footsteps and participate in the Miss South Africa pageant, the decision would be entirely up to her. “If she wants to, definitely. I would encourage any woman to enter. The reason why I say that is because just in the process, you already learn so much about yourself.

“You have to write an essay about yourself and why you want to be Miss South Africa. And trust me, even during that first process you sit and ask yourself, ʻOh my, do I actually know myself?’ There you’ve already learned something about yourself,” she explains.

IT REALLY SHIFTS YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND YOUR ROLE, AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU’VE GOT A BIGGER RESPONSIBILITY, SOMETHING BEYOND YOU

“Then, if you do get accepted into the next round, suddenly people on social media are commenting and comparing you to someone else, and you learn whether or not you can handle this kind of attention. You ask yourself ʻHow confident am I in myself?’

“After that, you make it to the next level and then you go on these courses where they have people who come in and teach you all about what it means to be authentic and self-confident, and what the role of Miss SA entails. So you learn a lot of skills throughout the process of just entering,” Tamaryn says. “It’s not always about the win. So that is why I would encourage people to enter if it has ever been a dream of theirs.”

Tamaryn has a special message for Jet Club readers this festive season: “Enjoy this time, spend it with those you love and do things that make you happy. It’s not always sunshine and roses and we have challenges throughout the year, but I think this is the time to just think of what’s really important, what really brings you joy, and focus on those things and do those things.”

FOLLOW TAMARYN

Facebook: Official Tamaryn Green

Instagram: @tamaryngreen
X: @TamarynGreen

By: Rughsaar Bibi Ismail
Photography: Zhann Solomons
Styling: Mia-Tess Smith
Photography assistants: Tapiwa Kahari, Austin Taylor
Styling assistant: Calista Da Luz
Hair & makeup: Jacqui Viljoen/Supernova