Miss Royalty pageant celebrates Youth Day

TK Modelling hosted Miss Royalty Youth Day Programme Pageant to celebrate Youth Day at Ivory Park Community North Hall on June 17.

These pageants aim to celebrate public holidays by hosting pageants on these days. It also provides a platform for the youth to showcase their talents as it collaborated with local performing groups.

Charmaine Malele, TK Modelling founder/organiser, said they had the first event on March 22 to commemorate Human Rights Day, which was called Miss Recycling Programme.

“The Miss Royalty pageant was a success with a number of parents coming out to support their children and friends who came to support their peers,” said Charmaine.

“We try to reduce teenage pregnancy. We try to take children from the streets to spend a day cheering for others in orderto keep them from substance abuse, hence the entrance was free.”

Charmaine said in September they will host another pageant celebrating Heritage Day – Miss Beauty In Heritage.

“All this is preparations programmes to the biggest one of them all. On October 5 Miss Royalty will be named, which is an annual event,” said Charmaine.

Umehluko Arts Production, among other groups, entertained the audience with kofifi and sarafina dances. Umehluko Arts Production chairperson and director Thabang Maduna said they chose the dances specifically because they reflect the event and remind people of the origin of our modern popular dances.

“We try to groom the future performers in one platform, for us all to succeed side by side,” said Thabang.

The overall winners were Achumile Sishuba (Miss Royalty Youth Day Little Queen), Akhona Sishuba (Miss Royalty Youth Day Teen), Nandine Dhangar (Miss Royalty Youth Day Mini) and Noluthando Matonsi (Miss Royalty Senior Queen). Others were awarded based on talent and personality. The judges were Zinhle Ngwenya, Regina Maphosa, Thato Nguitshi and Tsholo Nxumalo.

Noluthando said she had put a lot of work in and it has paid off.

“I feel great that I won, but I had a tough time deciding what I will do for talent and decided on a poem about Youth Day.

“As a former Mqele queen, I know that pageantry boosts your confidence. Now I can focus on my Bachelors of Education degree at the University of the Witwatersrand with a great feeling,” said Noluthando.