Ayanda Nyakane says the pageant was both exciting and scary. “I did not know what to expect and did not know what kind of people will I be competing against. “Winning the competition showed me that where you come from does not determine where you are going.

“I did undermine myself by saying that I was from the villages and I can never win against all the girls, but I made it,” said Ayanda. Ayanda said that she has been competing in modelling competitions and used to lose regularly. “There were times where I felt like I wasn’t good enough, that modelling is not for me, but with all the support I received from my friends and family, I kept pushing and praying.”

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Ayanda says that she wants to be a better version of herself. “I am a very active person and chose to become a model because I believe that I can be successful. That is what motivates me.”

She encouraged people struggling with insecurities to never be afraid of failure. “I used to suffer from a lack of self-confidence until I decided not to be defined by my insecurities.”

She hopes to use this experience to create awareness of the issue. “It was a struggle at first, but now I have learnt to accept myself and it has been going well for me. “I changed my diet, dealt with my acne, and have not looked back,” she said.