Lindiwe Moagi from Lorraine village in Ga-Sekororo told the Herald that reaching the top 16 took courage, hard work, discipline, and commitment. “The MBSA journey has taught me to be independent and strong, to speak out on issues, and be selfless. I’ve had to step from my comfort zone to stand up for what I believe in and want. It is not only about looks, dresses, and make-up. It’s about developing character in a dignified manner and representing the women of South Africa and the world who experience gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide and fearlessly supporting them.

“I have also learnt that after each fall it is critical that you stand up and continue,” said Lindiwe. “Being passionate about women empowerment and leadership drives me to make a change and from where I stand, I see a lot of possibilities. I see boys who are well-developed and have good self-esteem. We need to involve both females and males in our initiative to empower girls. If we do not have a balanced approach, the abuse and murder of women by their spouses will not end,” she added.

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She says she wants to create a safe environment where males can come forth and speak up, where their thoughts are listened to and everyone works together constructively. “Things will only get better when you get better yourself. My advice to women is to stand firm, and believe in yourselves and what you want. If you are in an abusive relationship, leave. You will realise that in every journey to success, there are challenges because you are growing.”

Lindiwe said the pageant took a lot of hard work with tasks that had to be tackled creatively. “It is hard being a single parent and working, being on this journey requires a lot of time, energy, and commitment, all things I am currently trying to balance,” added Lindiwe. She will be hosting a ‘Glow up girl’ picnic and meeting at Dinokeng Resort in Ga-Sekororo with the aim to empower girls from a young age on
February 25. Lindiwe can be reached at 071 917 2913.