Miss Pre-Teen Universe Gauteng contestant Thandeka Racheku uses pageantry to empower youth
Fourways resident Thandeka Racheku is turning her passion for helping others into action through sanitary pad donations, reading sessions and community initiatives supporting vulnerable children.
Ten-year-old Thandeka Racheku hopes to make a difference in her community by donating sanitary pads to girls, reading with preschool children, and learning about gender-based violence (GBV) and child abuse.
While she prepares to represent Gauteng at the Miss Pre-Teen Universe South Africa competition, she is using her platform to raise awareness of issues affecting children and encourage other young people to support those around them.
One of Thandeka’s initiatives involves donating sanitary pads to girls in her community to help them attend school with dignity. She also spends time reading with young children at a preschool, helping nurture their interest in reading from an early age.
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Beyond these efforts, she attends initiatives addressing GBV and child abuse when she can, while continuing to learn more about these issues.
“For me, it is not about how big the project is, but about having a caring heart,” she said.
Thandeka’s commitment to community service forms part of her journey in pageantry. She was crowned Miss Pre-Teen Fourways 2026 at Cedar Square Shopping Centre in February before winning the Miss Pre-Teen Universe Gauteng title in September.
She is now preparing for the national competition, where she hopes to represent Gauteng and inspire other young girls. Through her training with the SA Models Foundation under mentor Mimi Qatsi, Thandeka said she has learned the importance of kindness, confidence and leadership.
“Miss Mimi taught me that a leader is not the loudest, but the kindest,” she said.
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As she prepares for the next stage of the competition, Thandeka hopes to continue supporting children and girls through her community work. She also wants other children to understand that they do not have to wait until they are older to make a difference.
“Don’t let fear silence your dream. Your dream does not have to be loud, it just has to be yours,” she said.
Thandeka hopes to use her platform to encourage young people to believe in themselves while recognising the importance of helping others.
“If I can inspire just one young girl to believe in herself, then I have already made my crown meaningful,” she said.
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