LIMPOPO – Desree Mahori’s story begins in the dusty streets of Mavalani village in Giyani, far from the big city lights and modelling activities. Yet her journey as a model has already started inspiring young people across Limpopo and the country.

At just 16, the young model who has just been crowned Miss Teenager Africa Diversity 2025 in Kampala, Uganda, already speaks with the honesty of someone who has lived the power of believing in “yourself” even when others don’t.

From local pageant to continental crown

Asked how she developed her modelling interest, Mahori remembers exactly where it all began: one afternoon in 2022, her dad walked into the house holding a small poster for a local pageant.

“He asked me if I wanted to compete, and I agreed immediately,” she says. That simple moment opened doors she had never imagined.

“After that pageant, I learned a lot, including leadership skills and how women can bring about change in their communities and their country through modelling.”

Modelling, for her, grew into something far deeper than taking photos or standing under bright stage lights.

It became a place where she learned to embrace herself. Mahori speaks openly about being bullied for her dark skin when she was younger.

“The platform made me confident in my skin colour. Modelling showed me that all skin colours are accepted and considered beautiful.”

Inspiring village youth to dream bigger

Mahori tells young people that it doesn’t matter where they come from; what matters is how they choose to grow their talent. “Ambition doesn’t depend on where you come from,” she says. “It depends on how you use your talent.”

Next year, she will represent Africa in Poland. But for her, the most important part of the journey is not the destination. It is showing young people from villages that their dreams can travel further than they think.

“I want to be a role model to my peers and show them how dreams can come true by working hard and setting goals for oneself,” she says.

Her message to young people is direct and heartfelt: “If you are talented at something, use that talent and work on it because one day it will be the reason you are known all over the world.

“Be confident and don’t let people bring you down with their negativity,” she said, adding that choosing the right friends was important.