A young model has secured a place as a finalist in the Miss Grand South Africa 2025 pageant.
Phodiso Makhubedu (22) said it has been her dream since she was five years old to become Miss Grand South Africa one day.
This much-anticipated crowning is scheduled to take place at Emperors Palace in Gauteng on Saturday, June 28.
She said she started participating in pageants in Miss Bushbuckridge last year and that was when her passion for these competitions grew stronger.
Makhubedu also secured the Miss Hazyview first runner-up sash.
Her participation in various pageants made her realise that she could make a difference in her community.
“I live by the motto, ‘If you can dream it, you can be it’. Where there is a will, there is always a way,” Makhubedu said.

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“It does not matter where one comes from, all it takes is dedication and hard work.”
She is currently an IT intern, who is also awaiting graduation at the University of Mpumalanga.
When speaking about her life at varsity, she said she found it very difficult to adapt in her first year. This inspired her to start a programme to assist students to adapt to new situations.
Makhubedu is not just young and ambitious, but also passionate about pageants and fashion shows.
She believes that through pageants she can uplift and encourage the youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to contribute positively to their respective communities.
“Encouraging teens and the youth to continue pursuing their dreams is my intention. I believe that everything happens in God’s time, and that patience is the mother of all successes,” said Makhubedu.
“Advocacy, empowerment and community upliftment must continue to be my goals.”

She said: “My mother and grandmother are my pillars of strength. They believed in me and my dreams, even when I was at my weakest. My father and all my family members have also been very supportive throughout this journey.”

She warned that being a model was not easy as there are many obstacles, and a lot of negativity and, to a certain extent, body shaming.
“This is why it requires dedication, patience, hard work, a teachable spirit and most importantly, love. Over and above this, anything is possible through God,” said Makhubedu.