Success a step away for America Gopie

From a crown to a court robe, Ruweshka America Gopie is the epitome of beauty and brains and aims to empower and inspire her fellow women.

The lawyer and newly crowned Miss Endumeni is no stranger to pageants and has been competing in them since the age of five.
“I enjoy participating in pageants because it teaches you that it’s ok to lose.”
Just over a month into her reign, the 23-year-old is already looking at ways to use her position to empower young females in the town. A proud South African and Dundonian, America spent five years in Johannesburg, where she studied law at Wits.

After graduating from Wits University where she obtained her LLB degree, America spent a further year in Johannesburg, before moving back to Dundee. Being at Wits and in Johannesburg was a very different lifestyle for her. “It’s very hard to be punctual there because you have to leave a lot earlier for appointments due to the traffic. Here everything is around the corner and I love being a farm girl as well,” she said. She is currently doing her articles at Sipho Mbatha Attorneys.

The name America was given to her by dad, Naresh, who wanted his daughter to grow up as powerful as the country, a wish he is currently getting. “At first I never liked the name because people always teased me about being named after a country. In university I realised people couldn’t spell or properly pronounce my first name, so I stuck to America.” However, even this proved difficult for some people to remember and she was often called Croatia.
Now back in Dundee, America is focused on inspiring younger women in the area and helping them live up to their full potential. “We women are successful and powerful. We are on par with men. Women are climbing the corporate ladder of success without needing to kick off their heels.”

Wise beyond her years, America encourages women to be different. “We are not defined by being like someone else. Don’t be afraid to stand up and be different.”
America isn’t afraid to stand up and be different, switching between her crown and her court robe with ease. She attributes her inspiration to four powerful women in her life, her mum, Sgt Sookraj, Maliga Pillay and Prosecutor Mkhwanazi. America also paid tribute to her current mentor, Melo Shabangu, for teaching her the ropes of criminal law. Originally America planned on doing insurance law but is slowly falling in love with the criminal aspect. “The thread of law permeates every sphere of society. Everything is governed by rules and regulations.”

All about female empowerment, America has big plans for the future, focusing on the younger girls in the area. “I’m working on a proposals to start an organisation working with girls in the rural areas. I believe it’s not where you come from but where you are going that counts. Women don’t need validation from a man. We can be successful and do great things on our own,” she added.

America thanked her parents, labeling them as her biggest supporters and critics as well as her brother, Dr Ajayson.
She also thanked organisers of the Miss Endumeni pageant, Sipho Mbatha and friends and family who have been there for her through everything.

Whether she’s wearing her crown and sash or her court robes, you can be sure that Ruweshka America Gopie will be climbing that ladder of success, with her high heels proudly on.