Young girls in Hammanskraal are being encouraged to believe in themselves, develop their talents and become confident future leaders through an initiative by Black Chair Events.

The initiative, which includes the Little Miss Jubilee Mall pageant, focuses on personal development, self-love, communication and creating opportunities for girls to discover their potential.

Founder Mimi Mashigo said the vision behind the initiative was to create a platform where young girls could feel valued, develop their abilities and celebrate their individuality.

“The inspiration behind Little Miss Jubilee Mall 2026 was to create a platform where young girls could discover their potential, build confidence and celebrate their uniqueness,” she said.

Mashigo said pageantry was about more than crowns and beauty, with the initiative seeking to equip participants with skills and attitudes that could benefit them beyond the competition.

Focus on development

The latest edition of Little Miss Jubilee Mall culminated in a grand finale at Jubilee Mall on October 17, with 40 contestants participating across different age categories.

According to Mashigo, the programme aims to promote self-love, good communication, talent development and personal growth while encouraging the girls to embrace their individuality.

The initiative also emphasises education, kindness, good values and charity, with participants encouraged to understand that their worth is not determined by their appearance or whether they win a title.

Through rehearsals, coaching, public appearances and interaction with other contestants, the girls have opportunities to develop their public-speaking abilities, stage presence, teamwork, discipline and resilience.

“Most importantly, the girls learn that their worth is not determined by winning a title but by their character, confidence and willingness to grow,” said Mashigo.

She said seeing the contestants confidently showcase what they had learnt throughout their journey was one of the most rewarding aspects of the programme.

The winners were as follows:

In the young girls category, Genesis Kgumalo won Second Princess and Best Performer, Reneilwe Mohale won Little Queen and Miss Public Choice, and Meedi Maila walked away with First Princess and Miss Fan Favourite.

In the pre-teen category, Kemofenyi Kekana was the First Princess and Miss Fan Favourite, Reatlegile Nkoana was crowned Pre-Teen Queen and Miss Charity, and Reamogetswe Makwela earned Second Princess and Miss Public Choice.

Dimpho Mushi (12) won the Best Creative Wear.

Businesses step forward

The initiative also relied on support from parents, families, businesses and the wider community to provide an environment in which the girls can participate and develop.

Mashigo said the contributions, which included financial assistance, products, services and practical support, helped make the programme possible.

She added that organising the initiative required considerable planning, co-ordination, time and financial resources. The commitment of the organising team, parents, sponsors and community members helped address these challenges.

Looking ahead, Black Chair Events hopes to expand the initiative by strengthening partnerships with businesses, schools, media organisations and community stakeholders.

Mashigo said the organisation would like to introduce more educational, charitable, leadership and talent-development activities to create opportunities for young girls beyond the pageant stage.

“Our vision is to continue growing Little Miss Jubilee Mall into a platform that empowers more young girls and creates opportunities beyond the pageant stage,” she said.

Through its continued work, Black Chair Events hopes to encourage young girls to recognise their abilities, grow in confidence and use their skills to contribute positively to their communities.

Mashigo said the initiative remained committed to creating opportunities for girls to develop their potential and become confident young leaders.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel