Former Miss South Africa Details Terrifying Kidnapping Attempt, Credits Divine Intervention and a Stranger’s Kindness
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Demi-Leigh Tebow, the 2017 Miss South Africa, has revealed a harrowing experience of being held at gunpoint and nearly kidnapped in Johannesburg just months after winning the crown. Tebow recounted the ordeal in a recent interview, detailing the fear and desperation she felt while pleading for help from passersby who ignored her cries. The incident, she says, profoundly shaped her faith and understanding of selfless service.
The attempted kidnapping occurred as Tebow stopped at a red traffic light. She was immediately surrounded by multiple men, one of whom pointed a gun at her head. “I had a gun pointing to my head, and the moment I tried to get out of that vehicle, the guy on my side of the vehicle grabbed me by the arm … and said, ‘Get in. You’re going with us,'” Tebow explained. She managed to escape the vehicle and desperately sought assistance, running to car after car, but was repeatedly ignored. “People could actually hear what I was saying. they could see and hear the terror in my eyes and in my voice, and nobody would stop to help me,” she recalled.
The ordeal ended when a 19-year-old woman driving an older vehicle stopped and allowed Tebow to enter, providing a safe escape. Tebow emphasized the profound impact of this stranger’s act of kindness, describing it as a pivotal moment that illustrated the importance of being “interruptable” and available to help those in need.
“That incident truly served as a catalyst in my life,” Tebow said. “She showed me what it means to be there for somebody in need… what it means to be… interruptable.” She believes the experience reinforced her faith, demonstrating “so much blessing in obedience” when individuals prioritize helping others.
Tebow shared her story on the “Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith” program, currently streaming on UP Faith & Family. The full conversation explores the lasting impact of the trauma and the lessons she learned about faith, compassion, and the power of a single act of kindness.
