Miss South Africa Plus World finalist from Ivory Park aims to empower plus-size women
Sehlabelo is currently on a drive to collect school uniforms and stationery for underprivileged children in Tembisa
Ivory Park-born plus-size beauty model Palesa Sehlabelo looks set to take on the world.
This bubbly model is one of the finalists of the 2020 edition of the Miss South Africa Plus World, a pageant for plus-size women.
Sehlabelo said she has bigger dreams to change and bring hope to the girl child.
“If I were to be crowned Miss South Africa World Plus, I would work hard to be an ambassador for plus-size women, plant a seed of confidence and self-love and acceptance. But above all, I am passionate about children, particularly the girl child,” she said.
She added that she was currently working on mentoring young girls and working with charities, supporting abused women and helping vulnerable children.
“I will continue instilling all these characteristics in them and be more involved in charity work, especially with the back-to-school drive. Not only do I want to do this for the duration of the competition, but I also wish it to be an ongoing habit, with the help of the community and sponsors,” she continued.
Sehlabelo grew up very shy, reserved and not very open, but somehow she had always known that she would one day be an influential person, not just in Tembisa and the country, but worldwide.
“Growing up, I have always loved modelling. I always wished to be a fashion model and a fashion ambassador but then I felt it was not going to happen as I grew up and picked up some weight. When I noticed that I was a plus-size, I thought there was no hope for me to become a model.
“But one day, I decided to search for plus-sized models and luckily I saw a page for Miss South Africa Plus World and decided to enter the competition. By God’s grace, I was chosen to represent the Gauteng province,” explained Sehlabelo.
“I entered this pageant to boost my confidence. I felt that some people tend to throw negative comments at plus-size people. I have experienced that a lot of times, especially when people say hurtful comments about your size and body.
“I felt this would be the right platform to go out there and say whatever my size and whatever my appearance, I am still capable and beautiful and above all, I am a model. I hope that I will be an inspiration to other plus-size women out there,” she said.
Sehlabelo is currently on a drive to collect school uniforms and stationery for underprivileged children in Tembisa.
She said part of her community work, as she prepares for the final showdown in April, is to help bring change to local children.
“There are so many children out there who still go to school without proper school uniform and stationery. And I am hoping that through this programme, I would be able to help a few learners with school uniform and books,” she said.
For more information and how to donate school uniform, shoes and stationery, call Sehlabelo on 082 820 6721 or WhatsApp 063 553 9711.
