Miss Tembisa Brand project changes hands

Philly Mhlongo, a community builder and founder of Siyaphumelela Youth Development Initiative, officially handed over the Miss Tembisa Brand project to former Miss Tembisa 2014 Boitumelo Mabitsela on November 16.

The aim of the project is to transform the modelling industry and groom girl children in the township.

The event was held at Moses Molelekwa Art Centre, where Mhlongo was joined by the finalists of Miss Tembisa and Miss Teen Tembisa, as well as former beauty queens and local residents.

Community builder and women’s activist Matuma Petunia Langa conducted the ceremony.

Mhlongo said he was elated to hand over the project to an “amazing”, “optimistic woman” who would ensure the brand never dies.

“I am proud that I’ve seen many young girls who are the products of the Miss Tembisa Brand achieving incredible things in the modelling industry and being the faces and ambassadors for great companies and communities,” added Mhlongo.

Mhlongo said he would love to see Tembisa’s young girls taking ownership of the project and succeeding in their endeavours and careers.

The event was graced by Ayanda Kubheka, the wife of the late soccer legend John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu. She was crowned Miss Tembisa 2013 and is the founder of the Shoes Moshoeu Foundation.

Thembi Monametsi, a former Mrs South Africa finalist, and Nhlanhla Phiri, production manager at Miss Ekurhuleni Ambassador, also attended the event.

Mabitsela said it was a great honour to be the new brand owner of such a prestigious project.

“As a former Miss Tembisa 2014, it was always my dream to own a modelling school and agency. And now I couldn’t be more proud that I have accomplished this five years after my reign.

“As we groom young ladies of Tembisa, we’ll also be recruiting talent into my modelling agency, Models Directory. I have seen how my home town is rich in talent, and this will also eradicate unemployment and the major problem of drug addiction that we see on a daily basis in our community,” said Mabitsela.

She said her plan is to grow the brand.

“I am about to change the game and empower young ladies of Tembisa to be women of substance. I’ll be working hand in hand with my husband, Lehlogonolo Mabitsela, also a renowned businessman and philanthropist, to empower the young ladies and the public of Tembisa at large. The brand is about to become a trailblazer,” she said.

Mabitsela thanked the project’s sponsors, including Perfect Choice, Mo Fire, K2M Funeral Services and MSC Business College, among others who are coming on board in 2019.

Ayanda Kubheka thanked Mhlongo for being a game changer and a force for positive action in the community and in the life of the girl child.

“The brand deserves to grow stronger and better because it is a necessity for the community of Tembisa. The Miss Tembisa Brand platform instilled in me a sense of self-acceptance, exposed my God-given talent and beautiful features and allowed me to embrace them with grace and confidence. A year later I was employed as a personal assistant to my role model, Mrs Gerry Elsdon (former Rantseli), and later managed the diaries of a number of Miss South Africa and Miss South Africa Teens events.

“Today I am an artist agent and entrepreneur who has managed the careers of the likes of Zizo Tshwete (Beda) and Pearl Modiadie and co-founded a non-profit organisation called Shoes of Wisdom with the late John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu, an organisation that mentors the boy child,” said Kubheka.

The Miss Tembisa and Miss Teen Tembisa beauty pageant finalists will be competing for the two titles in December.