Miss Earth Rose unveiled

Catherine Constantinides, Anja Taschner, Heike Taschner and Ella Bella

This year the Miss Earth South Africa pledged to 'Make Every Day an Earth Day' and this launch was seen as a logical progression of the ethos of beautifying each day and ensuring that each day is lived in harmony and balance with the environment. "Greening our immediate environment is part of the journey of treading lightly - from recycle bins to responsible consumerism - and now we are able to add the gorgeous Ludwig's Miss Earth Rose to that," said Ella Bella, Miss Earth South Africa's educational programme director.

Thorns are a reminder

"A rose is an expression, and for the Miss Earth South Africa, it symbolises the beauty of nature juxtaposed to the challenges that the environment faces. The thorns protect the flower, but to us they are a reminder of the work that needs to be done and the awareness that need to be created, in order to change mind sets," says Catherine Constantinides, executive director of Miss Earth South Africa.

It was a natural progression that Ludwig's Roses would join forces with the Miss Earth South Africa organisation to create this unique rose with its elegant white petals, representing the purity and determination encompassed by the ideology of the Miss Earth South Africa programme that strives to develop strong, elegant women who leave the programme with knowledge, skills and a determination to help change the world.

Significant achievements

The Miss Earth South Africa organisation achieved significant acclaim in the environmental sector over the past decade. Last year they planted their 20 000th tree, and the past 18 months have seen them working closely with community initiatives in the West African state of Côte d'Ivoire, further illustrating the reach that this local team have in spreading an environmental advocacy throughout Africa. Their trip also included a visit to Togo and Ethiopia.

In August the organisation received the inaugural South African Premier Business Award in the Young Entrepreneur Category from the Department of Trade and Industry and the organisation's founder, Catherine Constantinides was named Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year at the TOPCO Top Women Awards.