Local model aims high

BURGERSFORT – Bonolo Mphogo, a 19-year-old damsel from Dresden Village, is a semi-finalist in the Miss Glam South Africa pageant. Mphogo is currently studying towards a bachelor of arts in humanities at the North West
University.

“I am a mental health activist, a body positivity activist, a firm believer of change for the better and a pageant
girl,” she said.

The teenager’s pageantry journey started in 2019 when she decided to enter in the Miss Fetakgomo Tubatse
Local Municipality pageant.

“I made it to the finals and my love for pageantry sparked. So, this year I had the privilege to enter for the Miss
Glam South Africa pageant and by the grace of God I made it as a semifinalist.
“I personally feel like my decision to go into pageantry was mainly inspired by my love of giving back to the community and the urge to lead and inspire young girls to believe in themselves, to always know that it doesn’t matter where you come from, how you look like or what other people may say about you; you can do
anything you put your mind to.”

She said because of the major bullying and body shaming she was subjected to both as a child and a
teenager due to her weight, this has pushed her to strive to break society’s so-called “beauty standards”.

“I believe everyone is beautiful in their own way. Beauty has no size, skin tone, race, gender or standards,
and no one has to go through bullying and body shaming just because of their body or how they look.”

The determined and positive-minded Mphogo pleaded for support. “I’d like to plead with my people to please
support me in the Miss Glam South Africa pageant by kindly voting for me.”

To vote, one can deposit R10 or more into Standard Bank, account number 10151013223, with “Bonolo
Mphogo” as reference. R10 equals five votes, and R20 is 10 votes. Voting lines close on September 18.
For more information, contact Mphogo on 066 535 6231.