#YouthMonth: Meet Kenneth Sithole
He started modelling in 2018 and in all the events he participated in, he has scooped several titles.
Kenneth Sithole is the founder of the Mr and Miss Elite Daveyton and Elite Kings and Queens beauty pageants.
This larger-than-life character lives and breathes modelling. Growing up, while his peers loitered the streets, he turned his room into a ramp. This is where Sithole understood the importance of body positivity and has dedicated his life to using the ramp to make a difference.
He lives his life to the fullest and this has elevated him to heroic status among his peers who address him as ’the king’.
“Being a king means taking care of your kingdom. I am a vibrant young leader. I want to positively inspire those coming after me so they can also play an important role in their communities.”
Sithole exudes confidence and wants to use that trait to effect change in his community.
“Like most townships, Daveyton’s young people are unemployed, de-motivated while alcohol and drug abuse are high.
“Growing up, sports was dominant but it’s not like that for anymore. Children are abusing drugs and getting pregnant.
“I’m not saying we will stop all these problems but this can bring upon change. We are planning to make this a generational thing because if we fail, those coming after us can take the baton and continue with this project and get as many children off the streets as possible.”
The City Times caught up with the 25-year for a conversation on what it means being a young person in South Africa.
Define yourself in three words.
Leader, ambitious and respectful.
What does youth month mean to you?
It means celebrating the youth, the good decisions they make and accepting themselves for who they are.
It means motivating young people to not gamble with their future by engaging in drugs and bad habits. Young people are the leaders of tomorrow and therefore they must inspire the next generation.
What does being a young man in South Africa means to you?
Also Read: #YouthMonth: Meet Lindi Ngonelo
The most important thing is having leaders who groom us. It’s important to have a pillar of strength to guide and upskill us that we can also impart that knowledge to the next generation. This will help create a generation that makes wise decisions and most importantly treats women with respect.
The word ‘elite’ features prominently in your vocabulary. Why?
An elite person is someone who is above average. I’ve always seen myself as an elite person.
I’m a professional model. I tackle life in an elite way. As a person you must be motivated so that you can inspire others.
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership is a thread that holds a community together. It helps build communities because there’s guidance, harmony and positivity all round.
What are the projects you are involved in that are making a difference in your community?
I run the Mr and Miss Elite Daveyton and Elite Kings and Queens beauty pageants. We give children a platform to showcase their talent. This is an opportunity for them to build a career for themselves.
The projects keep them active and we have so far inspired some who have competed at bigger events. We want to take as many of them off the streets as possible. We want them to see themselves as elite kings and kings.
Besides the modelling, we run workshops where we invite different speakers to motivate and share some wisdom with the children.
If you were to be elected president for a day, what would you do differently?
I would improve the standard of our education. I would introduce more practical-based assessments from high school so that post-school, the learners could choose to continue studying at tertiary level or look for work.
Also Read: What does Youth Day mean to you?
