Miss Mpumalanga 2024 wants to inspire the youth

Nicely dressed in a little pink number and diamond stilettos, the new Mpumalanga queen and ambassador for the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER), Bajabulise Thela’s presence commands attention as soon as she enters the room.

One thing about her is that she is instantly likable. And as soon as she opens her mouth and starts to converse, one is left in awe, because the things she says are the stuff of legends. So calm and down to earth, but yet so smart, it’s no wonder she left an unforgettable impression on all the Crowning Miss Mpumalanga 2024 judges and the audience who attended the show.

Crowned the new Miss Mpumalanga during a glittering event at the Communio Church on Saturday March 23, Thela says she still has to pinch herself, but many who saw her in action would know she is just being modest, as she was born for these shoes and for this moment.

“Well, it has always been my dream to enter Miss Mpumalanga, ever since I won Miss Likhweti Primary School when I was a little girl,” she says.

She was nervous on the day of the show, but had to compose herself since she had trained hard enough for that moment.
As a matter of fact, Thela is no stranger to winning beauty pageants, as she has bagged a number of high-profile crowns in the country.

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In 2021, she was crowned Miss Teen Supranational South Africa. She was set to represent South Africa in the Miss Teen Grand Universe beauty pageant in Guatemala, South America, but could not due to a lack of funds. In 2023, she was crowned as the new ambassador of Teen Universe South Africa.

“As I was growing up, I have always wanted to be part of those girls who were doing Miss Mpumalanga, and this year I thought it was the right time for me to enter, and I did. I wanted to enter a pageant that is a good platform, and Miss Mpumalanga is one, because it carries so much power,” she says.

Thela looks forward to working with young people in the province. She says with the MER strategy, she knows she will make use of this platform to bring about change in communities, since young people are faced with so many challenges and social ills. “I discovered this passion of working with young people, which will resonate very well with being the ambassador for the MER, as they work towards tackling illegal gambling and underage drinking.

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“I want to serve as an inspiration to young people as they surely need a role model they can look up to. My vision is to help young people, especially those from townships and rural areas, where many young people are falling into drug and alcohol abuse, and feel like that’s the only escape they can run to. They drop out of school, but I want to be that person who can be a reflection to them. I want to be their inspiration. Since I will also be the ambassador of the MER, I am going to make use of this platform to encourage them and bring awareness about the dangers of excessive drinking and gambling.”

The MER used this platform to officially welcome her to its stable.