Growing up with my parents in Bloemfontein (and attending Eunice, a girls’ school), I became deeply rooted in the world of politics. While still young, I was exposed to the realities of the world (the media world, to be exact). Ultimately, my identical twin sister and I were catapulted into the modeling industry, which opened one door after another and led to endless possibilities. The privilege of winning FHM Models in 2008 built a foundation for me, for which I am truly grateful! I picked up several additional prestigious beauty and modeling titles, including being chosen to represent Triumph in Paris and being a runner-up for Miss Earth South Africa. I spent gratifying months working on housing projects and creating environmental awareness among youth. This was very rewarding and changed the way I view the world. Appearances on Glitterati and other TV shows, as well as TV adverts, magazine/newspaper editorials and numerous radio stations allowed me to blossom and discover myself. I was ecstatic to place seventh in the FHM 100sexiest South Africa. After I matriculated in 2006 from Hermanus High School, I planned to study law at UCT, but unfortunately the next year I became sick. It was then, during those gloomy months when I was stuck in bed and hospital wards, that I discovered my love for writing. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. I whisked myself away to the characters and worlds I created, escaping from my pain and from reality. I wrote and illustrated four children's books for an intended series of 10. Then I halted my progress on those books, as I was eager to see how far I could stretch my creative mind. After one year, I was delighted to say that I had completed an adventurous fantasy novel filled with parallel universes and mythical creatures. I am very excited about this novel, as I believe it could lead to a thrilling, mind-blowing fiction series. After this, I started studying via UNISA. I completed my BA degree in Language and Literature (specializing in writing) and in the process completed all three books of my fantasy Trilogy, Nevrhada. I love writing. It allows me to create a world where I control the actions of the characters and the events unfolding on the pages. It is, of course, no surprise when I say that I am, in general, a book fanatic. I can spend hours on end reading the time away. I also love to paint, which has helped me illustrate my children’s books. I’m at my happiest when I write, and this led me to start freelance writing for local publications in the Overberg. I enjoy interacting with people and writing articles about events and happenings. Currently, my days are filled with Pilates (which I definitely recommend), writing more books and spending as much time as possible with family and friends and my adorable blue-eyed border collie.
"I figured out at an early age that I can have everything I desire but not at the same time. The elements of my life have been developed one piece at a time. I am now at a piece that is ME, the individual, and I'm starting to really enjoy it. I have worked for everybody else and I've done for everybody else...which I have no regrets and it has shaped me in many wonderful ways...but the time has come for this young lady to LIVE this grand world God has set me in. No guilt. No apologizing. No outside opinions needed or wanted. For the rest of my journey...I AM free to be ME!" ~Demi Nguyen
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