Former Miss SA returns to Newcastle
Among the audience were the 36 members of Khulisa’s Global Give Back Circle, a mentorship program affording underprivileged girls skills, encouragement and advice.
Your background does not determine your destination.
Summarising the famous quote from the late Nelson Mandela, former Miss South Africa, Peggy Sue Khumalo is a living testament to determination overcoming even the direst of circumstances.
This was a prominent message to guests at a Khulisa tea on Saturday.
Among the audience were the 36 members of Khulisa’s Global Give Back Circle, a mentorship program affording underprivileged girls skills, encouragement and advice.
Mentors from the local community thus have a pivotal role to play as well.
Leaving an inspired foundation for the girls, Peggy Sue explained how she and her mother scraped along doing domestic work in the dying years of apartheid, making the best of any and all opportunities along the way.
This arduous path led Peggy Sue to Johannesburg in the early years of democracy.
With the barest minimum of modelling experience, yet armed with determination to empower herself at least, Peggy Sue created her own portfolio and took a step into the unknown.
“I believed I could win Miss South Africa because of past winners like Basetsana Kumalo.”
The rest, of course, is history – Peggy Sue won the Gauteng Regional round and the grand pageant finale in 1996, granted the chance to become a voice in the stigmatic silence of a country shrugging off the grasp of hatred and oppression.
Her fondest memories remain meeting the great Nelson Mandela in person.
“He showed me that we are competing in a global market – shining your light brightly makes you a better South African.”
Speaking directly to the GGBC participants, Peggy Sue warned the 36 girls to avoid falling pregnant for grant money, urged them to pursue education and ultimately find themselves.
“Write down your goals and always think how you can make a difference, the influence you can have on girls such as yourselves. First impressions last.”
Commenting on the event’s success, Khulisa project manager, Paul Bushell said Peggy Sue was an example of just what Newcastle people can accomplish.
He urged potential mentors to contact him on 072 471 6423.
“Peggy Sue showed anything is possible and we have to take responsibility for ourselves. It was also nice to see how you can impact a person’s life no matter who you are.”
