Aspiring model sets eyes on Mr and Miss Albinism title
Mavuka wants to inspire people to keep their heads up high and raise awareness about albinism.
Seventeen-year-old model and albinism activist from Thokoza Bontle Mavuka aspires to scoop the Mr and Miss Albinism SA (MMA) beauty pageant title.
MMA aims to educate the public about albinism and inspire those who are born with the condition to embrace it. The pageant is not only utilised as a platform to uplift but to aspire and improve the lives of those who struggle with albinism.
Mavuka, who’s also a motivational speaker and the founder of Kathorus Albinism Society, is a finalist for the first time since entering the competition.
Her love for modelling was influenced by her mother, Zinhle Mavuka, who was also a model.
“I started modelling two years ago. The reason I got into it was because of my mum. She taught me the walk, poses and how to put a pretty smile on my face.”
She said she noticed she has never met a model with albinism from Thokoza when she wanted to start networking with other models.
Her grandparents, Lettie and the late Sipho Mavuka, encouraged her to enter the contest.
“I fell in love with the idea of raising awareness about the condition and changing the stigma associated with modelling.
“While teaching people that it doesn’t matter if you have melanin or not, whether you are thick or slender, tall or short, white or black, abled or disabled, you are capable if you believe,” she explained.
Challenges
The youngster endured unfair treatment during primary school as she was bullied by other children.
“I did not know I was different until I got to primary school. That is where the trouble started, as I was called names. My self-esteem dropped.
“My father, Vincent Moloi, would reach out to the school to ask to do a presentation about lack of pigmentation, but the principal said other children will think I want special treatment,” she added.
According to Mavuka, the bullying continued until her fists became her only defence.
“I am not proud of it but when other children noticed I could defend myself they stopped,” she said.
How did you overcome bullying?
“It was because of self-acceptance. I made peace with the fact that I have albinism and I cannot change it,”Mavuka explained.
The founder of MMA, Godfrey Mphatswe, said in sub-Saharan Africa people with albinism face multiple challenges that restrict their daily lives.
This includes visual impairments and extreme vulnerability to skin infections and cancer due to the lack of melanin in their skin.
“As a result, almost all of them die of skin cancer before the age of 40,” he said.
“Among this, it was read and found that there have been multiple cases of discrimination in workplaces against those with albinism.”
He said with this movement they are instilling diversity and opening a platform that promotes not only social acceptance but self-acceptance.
“This is what the people of the nation should ultimately strive for,” he added.
“MMA contestants will stand as role models for future aspiring models and instil lifelong confidence.”
Future plans
Mavuka wants to inspire people to keep their heads up and raise awareness about this condition, which affects many others in the Kathorus and the world at large.
“I want to teach people to have faith and believe in themselves and not allow society to dictate their fate.”
She attend Grade 10 at Glenbrack High School.
“I want to study psychology and nursing while I continue my modelling career. I want to enter other pageants like Miss South Africa one day,” said Mavuka.
To vote for Mavuka visit Mr and Miss Albinism SA pageant’s website.
