Mr SA finalist aims to inspire struggling youth
Roman Reddy said he wants to tackle the issue of bullying and financial distress for university students.
MOSELEY Park resident Roman Reddy will use the Mr South Africa platform to be a voice for the voiceless, be a beacon of hope and create a platform for those who feel unheard.
As a young boy, growing up was challenging and tough, and every day, Reddy said he had to fight, not only to make a name for himself but to help change the trajectory of his future and his family’s.
The Mr South Africa finalist recalls hating himself and the way he looked.
“Psychologically, my mental health was at its all-time lowest for many years. I was constantly bullied at school for the way I looked, bullied for my cultural background and also bullied because of where I came from.”
Born and raised in Wyebank, Reddy said it was after suffering the bullying that he knew he had to make a difference in his life and those around him, so he focused hard on his education and gave it his all.
Through his studies, he found his voice.
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“Despite the bullying, I found something that I could look forward to each day. At the end of my Grade Seven year, in 2008, I was not only my primary school’s Dux Award recipient, but I also went on to achieve a full, 100 percent academic scholarship to attend one of the most prestigious and elite high schools in the province, Thomas More College,” he said, beaming with pride.
He completed his matric in 2013 with several distinctions.
Although he passed with flying colours, Reddy said he had challenges applying for his university studies.
“It was one of the hardest, most challenging and difficult roads I ever had to endure as my family and I struggled financially to aid my university studies, but with the help of my university, I was able to obtain several academic and financial bursaries throughout my studies, which funded my goal to become a Qualified Admitted Attorney of the High Court of the Republic of South Africa,” he said.
Today, he practises as an associate attorney in a leading prominent law firm in uMhlanga, specialising in Banking Law.
From all he has accomplished in his life, nothing means more to him than giving back and creating an impact to inspire others.
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“Many university students face bullying and financial distress, where they struggle to find funding for their qualifications, and these are the two issues that I want to tackle. Through the Mr South Africa organisation and my campaigns, I aspire to raise awareness and shed light on these two issues which are not talked about enough.”
The 27-year-old urged people, especially the youth, to never give up on their hopes and dreams or life aspirations.
If you want to see Reddy progress onto the next round of the competition, you can vote for him using the voting link found on the official Mr South Africa social media accounts.
You can also follow him on his social media platforms as he aspires to be the next Mr South Africa. He is @reddyrow on Instagram and TikTok.
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