Noluthando from Kagiso a Miss SA semi-finalist

Meet the Miss South Africa semi-finalists vying for the title of Miss South Africa 2019. One of them hails from Kagiso – 24-year-old Noluthando Bennett.

The semi-finalists come from around the country – Gauteng has 19 contenders, followed by the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal with five each; the Eastern Cape and Free State with two each; while Limpopo and the Northern Cape each have one entrant.

Noluthando is a sound engineer with a post-graduate diploma in multimedia and web design.

Some more about the beauty:

• Previous beauty competitions/ pageants won:

Miss Winifred Keneilwe Beauty Contest in 2000

• Why do you want to be Miss SA and what will you be able to bring to the role?

“I want to be Miss SA because I believe that this pageant has managed to make not only the country, but the world understand that this is not just about having the right face and body, but it’s about finding young women who are future leaders of this country. What I would be able to bring to the role is more than just my face, more than just my mind, but my skills that would aid in changing the current state of the country. Our youth are concerned, and I believe nurturing, teaching and equipping them with the necessary tools, opportunities and support will help set a great foundation for their future. Like many previous Miss SAs, I’d be another voice for change, another eager young woman ready to take action by giving back and opening many doors.

• Which previous Miss SA has inspired you?

Jacqui Mofokeng, because she was the first black Miss SA to be crowned (in 1993). I believe she broke barriers and showed every young black woman that it’s possible to be crowned Miss SA, to carry and exude the same qualities and traits as her competitors. She then went on to join the ANC Women’s League where she knew she could be a voice for women and their rights in SA.

• Who are your role models?

My grandmother is my role model because she exuded elegance, class, humility, kindness and patience. She raised eight of her own children, twenty-two grandchildren and still made room to raise children that were destitute. With this act of selflessness and love, I learned to always lend a hand, always give to the less fortunate, put the needs of those that aren’t as privileged as I am before mine, and to always pray, no matter what life throws at me. Filmmaker Ava DuVernay is a phenomenal woman, who in our era is showing us that you have to be bold, you have to be brave, you can use your gift and your purpose to tell a story, and be a voice for those who were shut out by the world.

• Tell us a bit more about your family.

I’m blessed to still have both parents and I have three older sisters. My parents are retired but that hasn’t stopped them from involving themselves with organisations that give back to communities, especially shelters for the homeless – young and old. My eldest sister Nonkululeko, 35, is in the legal field, my other two sisters, Nondyebo, 30, and Nontobeko, 29, both work for medical aid companies.

• What do you do in your spare time?

I read a lot, research new music, model for print and television, and love to watch documentaries.

• Miss South Africa 2019 will be crowned on Women’s Day – what does that mean to you?

August is a month that celebrates women, especially those 20 000 fierce women who decided to take a stand, fight for what’s right so that they, the youth that came after them, and generations to follow would not have to walk around carrying a pass that would continue to segregate people of colour. It would mean that I am one of the many women afforded the opportunity to do the work that comes with being Miss SA. It’s not just about the glitz and glamour, but the work that has to be done with organisations that aid the young, the old, the sick and the destitute. It would also mean that I get an opportunity to open doors for the youth and help create a solid foundation for the generation that’s to follow.

• Why do you think beauty pageants are still relevant in 2019?

Beauty pageants are still relevant in that they’ve eradicated the stigma that it’s all about beauty and nothing more. Beauty pageants give women a platform to show the world that they are more than just a beautiful face, that they are willing to take risks to see a change not only in their country but in the world – women with strong and resilient attitudes.

• Name two of your female role models?

Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela who played a vital role in shaping the future of South Africa as a whole. She showed and taught women of South Africa how to be defiant and fearless, to be powerful, embody strength, fortitude and conviction in everything they choose to do or say that will better them. My second female role model would be Malala Yousafzai because she is a current and future leader. She lives in a country that still believes in preventing women from getting an education and bettering their lives. She’s teaching old and young women that it’s okay to have a voice, take a stand and fight for what they want, no matter how small they’re made to feel or how they’ve been threatened by the men in your country.

• What is your message to young girls and young women in South Africa?

It is okay to dream; better yet, it’s a requirement to do so. But every single dream that has to be fulfilled and brought to life requires a lot more work than planned. I want young women and girls to know that nothing should ever stand in the way of achieving their goals. They have the right to be bold, to be strong, to be loud, to have a voice, to take a stand, to change the rules, to infiltrate spaces and work areas that were believed not to be for them. I want them to know that they must never give up on themselves and never forget to recognise their hard work.

• If you won the Miss SA crown and were able to meet one person, who would it be, and why?

Serena Williams, because she’s a strong woman who owns her gift and purpose in life; a young girl who had dreams and aspirations to one day play in the Grand Slam. Today, she’s regarded as the world’s greatest women tennis player of all time. To me that means hard work, dedication, resilience, sacrifice and determination. She has set a standard for everyone in sport, especially for women of colour and in a sport that is constantly under scrutiny for gender pay gaps and criticism of race and body type.

• What is the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I am phenomenal at public speaking and presenting. I do wonders in front of the camera. Also, I cannot swim.

• What is the No 1 piece of advice that you would give to your younger self?

Always believe in yourself, no matter how silly your dream. Always keep that belief, always put in the work and always let the work speak for itself. No dream is too big or too small that you can’t achieve it if you’ve set your mind on doing so.

• Describe yourself in three words:

Confident. Resilient. Knowledgeable.

• Who’s your local and international celeb crush?

My local celeb crush is Bonang Matheba. My international celeb crush is Mahershala Ali.

The Top 16 will be announced on 11 July.

The Miss South Africa pageant takes place on Women’s Day, Friday, 9 August at Sun International’s flagship venue, the Sun Arena at Time Square, Pretoria, and will be broadcast live on both M-Net and Mzanzi Magic.