Toni – a finalist in Miss Commonwealth 2015

Bez Valley resident, Toni Mngoma, is a finalist in the Miss Commonwealth 2015 pageant.

Toni was born in KwaZulu-Natal and raised in Gauteng.

She is the oldest of four siblings and is currently completing her Ba Degree in History and Communications at Unisa.

She said she entered the pageant as a personal challenge.

“The pageant slogan, ‘magic happens when you move out of your comfort zone’, attracted me. That is exactly what I wanted to do. Move out of my comfort zone and discover my strength and limitations, and continue to evolve,” she said.

She said reaching to the finals of the competition has given her the zeal to give it her all.

“I have been exposed to people, particularly young girls, who remind me so much of myself when I was younger. Girls who just want someone they can relate to and inspire them,” Toni said.

As part of the pageant, Toni has been involved in many charity projects, including the Pink Drive.

“Miss Commonwealth really encourages women of all ages and walks of life to be the change they want to see in their communities, peers and effectively in their own personal lives. It encourages entrepreneurial skills, establishing and maintaining contacts and connection,” she said.

Toni has been helping the Pink Drive breast cancer awareness campaign.

“I am proud and excited to be involved with this campaign. With its mission statement, ‘early detection saves lives,’ the campaign needs to spread as wide as possible. There is a need for breast cancer awareness in our country, especially the African community,” said Toni.

To support her in the Miss Commonwealth pageant, SMS Toni Mngoma to 35554. The SMS costs R3 and all proceeds go towards the Pink Drive.

Voting closes at the beginning of September.