First ever Miss Carolina beauty pageant a success
Ms Anele Gazu bought and planned everything out of her own pocket, including the prizes.
Snenhlanhla Madonsela was recently crowned the first Miss Carolina at a beauty pageant held at the Silobela Community Hall in Carolina on 8 September.
The pageant is the first of its kind to held in the town and organisers are looking to expand it to make it an annual event.
Penelope Mhlanga walked away with a first princess crown, while Ayanda Maseko took the second princess spot.
Miss Carolina walked away with the title, a tablet phone and R500, while Ms Mhlanga and Ms Maseko received cosmetic bags and R200.
Founded by Ms Anele Gazu (23), a teacher from the Zinikeleni Secondary School in Carolina, the pageant is a venture that Ms Gazu initiated to uplift the standard of living of young girls in the community of the Silobela township in Carolina.
Ms Gazu’s vision began in 2016 after she hosted the Miss Zinikeleni Secondary School pageant where many learners showed an interest in modelling and asked her for modelling classes.
Ms Gazu is also a model and was crowned Miss Eshowe in her hometown of Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal in 2015.
She was a top five finalist in the Miss KZN Sport Union pageant and is currently a semi-finalist in the Miss Ehlanzeni 2018/2019 pageant.
The beauty queen wrote numerous proposals to the local municipality and various businesses for the Miss Carolina pageant, however, no funding was forthcoming.
Ms Gazu bought and planned everything out of her very own pocket, including the prizes.
“I was a little bit disappointed, but l am not a failure and l wanted to achieve what I set out to do and the event was a success,” Ms Gazu said.
She thanked everyone who supported her, including Mr Doc Gina, the judges, Ms Nana Thabethe, Ms Nombula Maphini, Ms Cathrine Sibiya and Ms Nolwazi Mathebula.
“I am looking forward to hosting the second Miss Carolina pageant in 2019,” Ms Gazu concluded.
