Melinda Bam (born 13 May 1989) is a South African TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss South Africa 2011, becoming the official representative of her country to Miss Universe 2012.[4] She has a swimwear line called Bambshell, for which she worked with South African swimwear brand.[3]

Melinda Bam
Born
Melinda de Kock

(1989-05-13) 13 May 1989 (age 35)[1]
Alma materUniversity of Pretoria
Occupation(s)TV Presenter, Motivational Speaker, Model, author, fashion designer[2][3]
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Spouse
Adriaan Berg
(m. 2014)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss South Africa 2011
Hair colorBlonde
Eye colorBrown
Major
competition(s)
Miss South Africa 2011
(Winner)
Miss Universe 2012
(Top 10)

Early life

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Melinda Bam[5] (born Melinda de Kock) was raised in Pretoria. Her father, Deon de Kock, was a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church who killed himself in 1999 after he and Melinda's mom, gospel singer Wanda de Kock, were divorced earlier in the year. He had only served one congregation, Glenharvie, which merged with Westonaria in 1996, where after he was retrenched. Melinda was born in 1989 and has two sisters, Melissa Swart and Sybil Bam. She is a model and studied B.Com. Marketing at the University of Pretoria. She entered Miss South Africa 2011 and won the pageant on her first attempt.

Miss South Africa 2011

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She was crowned Miss South Africa 2011 at an event held at the Sun City Super Bowl on 11 December 2011.[4]

Miss Universe 2012

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Melinda Bam represented South Africa in December at Miss Universe 2012, which was held in Las Vegas, and placed among the top 10.

She did not participate in the Miss World 2012 pageant because if a contestant reaches the top three of the pageant she is not permitted to enter Miss Universe. The 1st princess Remona Moodley represented South Africa at Miss World 2012 instead.[6]

Miss South Africa national executive

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In June 2013 it was announced that Melinda Bam was appointed as national executive for the Miss South Africa Pageant, and she would be in charge of arranging potential sponsors for the pageant, as well as preparing the outgoing queens to both the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants. Her management proved successful and partly due to her guidance, secured the crown for 2014 Miss World titleholder Rolene Strauss.[7]

Personal life

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Her family name is of German origin.[8] Bam announced in November 2013 that she is engaged to Mr South Africa 2011, Adriaan Bergh. The two former beauty pageant title carriers got engaged during a holiday in Dubai. They were married in November 2014 at Oakfield Farm, Gauteng, South Africa.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "TVSA Melinda Bam Profile". Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Miss Universe Melinda Bam Profile". Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b Shangase, Zwelakhe (21 December 2012). "Top 10 for Melinda Bam". The New Age. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Tukkies girl crowned Miss SA". TimesLIVE. South Africa. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  5. ^ Kandie, Lynn (8 June 2020). "Interesting facts you did not know about Melinda Bam". Briefly. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Miss SA out, runner-up in for Miss World". 29 June 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Rolene puts Mzansi on global stage". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  8. ^ PasellaTV (28 June 2012), LAND: Ons landse mooiste!, retrieved 9 January 2018
  9. ^ "Melinda Bam & Adriaan Bergh's Forest Fairytale Wedding". The Pretty Blog. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss South Africa
2011
Succeeded by