Beauty and brains-Commonwealth finalist
The pageant opens new doors for young ambassadors and empowers women with the knowledge to bring about change to communities in need
BURGERSFORT – Local beauty, Dikeledi Mashao, 27, of Mashashane has been selected as one of the top-16 finalists in the 2015 Commonwealth Pageant South Africa.
Dikeledi needs votes from the community to help her win. The pageant opens new doors for young ambassadors and empowers women with the knowledge to bring about change to communities in need.
She is a pharmacist (dispensary supervisor) at Jane Furse Hospital. She obtained her BPharm honours at Witwatersrand’s medical school, and is currently completing her diploma in sports science. She is a tutor to intern pharmacists, a mentor for the local high schools and assists with aerobic sessions at a gym.
The Commonwealth pageant is a platform created for women of all ages to become charity and culture ambassadors within South Africa and the broader international community.
The title holders become involved in charitable causes and uphold the aims and objectives of the Commonwealth. This includes racial harmony, poverty eradication and cultural cohesion.
Dikeledi’s journey began in tertiary. “While at varsity I became a projects manager and academic officer for the Wits Pharmaceutical Student Association in 2008 and I was the coordinator for the Wits rural health in 2009. I got to do various projects for the community and from there I knew I wanted to make a difference,” she said.
As part of giving back to the community she assists at a shelter called Little Angels, for disabled kids suffering from neurological disorders.
“I would like to ask people to vote for me, because their core values resonate with what I strongly believe in and it is my dream to create a culture that inspires, equips and unleashes talent.
Winning will propel me into becoming the social entrepreneur who I aspire to be and to contribute towards cultivating the youth for a better country by establishing sustainable mentorship programmes on a broader scale.”
To support her journey, SMS her name and surname to 35554, each one costs R3. This year the pageant will support the Pink Drive Breast Cancer Campaign.
The winner will represent South Africa at the international pageant in London in November. The grand finale takes place at The Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City on September 12.
