Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, the former Miss Universe and wife of Tim Tebow, has shared the harrowing details of a carjacking attempt she narrowly escaped back in 2017.
The incident was recounted during her recent appearance with FOX News.
Nel-Peters, who is currently promoting her new book, “A Crown That Lasts,” revealed that the terrifying event occurred just a few months after she was crowned Miss South Africa.
“I was on my way to an official event as Miss South Africa when I stopped at a red light,” Nel-Peters said. “Before I knew it, five men, some of whom were armed, surrounded my vehicle.
“You know, in a traumatic situation like that, it’s hard to react. It’s hard to know exactly what to do. But I knew two things. And it’s because my dad forced me to go on safety driving courses, on self-defense workshops earlier in her life.
“In that traumatic situation, I knew not to go to the second destination, because whatever is about to happen somewhere downtown, in some dark alley with [maybe more people present] is not going to be better than right here: broad daylight, peak-hour traffic with hundreds of people around me.
“And, so, I tried to run away. I tried to get out of that vehicle. The man on my side of the vehicle grabbed me, pushed me back into the vehicle, said, ‘Get in, you’re going with us.'”
Desperate to protect herself, Nel-Peters utilized a defensive technique she had learned.
“The throat. It’s obviously lethal. So please don’t ever try this at home. It’s absolutely just to be used in a life-threatening situation. But I punched him as hard as I could in his throat, and that bought me a split-second window of opportunity to run away,” she said.
Despite her bravery, Nel-Peters described the aftermath as deeply unsettling.
“That incident was so dramatic,” she added. “But the most dramatic part of that story was running up that avenue in broad daylight … Nobody would stop to help me.
“I remember looking over my shoulder, not knowing if I’m being chased and [about to be] shot in the back, not knowing what their intent was. I just knew that it was not good.
“That moment really broke my heart and made me never want to be one of the [people behind] the many car windows that I knocked on, begging, asking, yelling for help. I want to be the one girl that eventually stopped for me … to help somebody in need.
“And, you know, I have dedicated the last couple of years of my life and in such a big way to use what I have with where I am to serve people in need.
“It truly shaped my heart to continue fighting for women around the world,” she concluded.
Today, Nel-Peters is grateful to have survived the ordeal and is using her platform to inspire and support others.
Her book, “A Crown That Lasts,” explores themes of resilience and strength, reflecting her journey through both personal and public challenges.
Of course, her famous husband is Tim Tebow, one of the greatest college football players of all-time.
The pair married on January 20, 2020.
While Tebow’s NFL career didn’t exactly turn out as planned, he’ll always have his legendary college career to hang his hat on (as well as that incredible playoff victory over the Steelers.)