Mr and Miss Alexandra Heritage 2025 titleholders reflect on year of community service
Reigning pageant king Philasande Bophela and queen Lesedi Mokgoshing share how their tenure brought personal growth and a sense of family.
The 2025 ambassadors of Mr and Miss Alexandra Heritage say their tenure as pageant king and queen has been about community service, hard work and, for one of them, finding a family.
Pageant king Philasande Bophela said the tenure was successful despite its challenges. “It was difficult because we had duties to perform as king and queen, but we really enjoyed it,” he said.
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Queen Lesedi Mokgoshing said the most meaningful part of her tenure was giving back. She said the sash, crown and fleeting glory mattered far less than the people she served and the way the role pulled her deeper into the community.
“You have to invest effort in your journey because being a queen is not just about beauty and looks, it is also about work and dedication,” she said.
“So, for me, it was about dedication, learning patience and enjoying everything about pageantry.”
The 2025 pageant opened entry to contestants from surrounding areas, widening its reach and building a close network of young people across different communities. Bophela, who is based in Olievenhoutbosch and had few ties to Alexandra before his reign, shared how the role connected him to the area.
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“Alexandra is a supportive community,” he said. “Even when people do not know you. I came here without knowing anyone, but when I was crowned king, I found a family here.”
Mokgoshing said her reign taught her never to give up, a lesson she hopes incoming contestants will adopt. Giving up, she stressed, is never an option.
Bophela’s advice to new titleholders centred on patience and hard work. “They should have patience and understand that dealing with models is hard,” he said.
Those who have won, he added, carry a duty to help others find confidence on stage. “They should have patience, courage and love to help others, because without that you cannot help another person,” he said.
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