Mrs SA semi-finalist is all about giving

POLOKWANE – SHONISANI Mulaudzi from Polokwane is one of the top 100 semi-finalists in the 2015 Mrs South Africa beauty pageant.

Shoni, as she is known to everyone, said being a semi-finalist was a blessing and she was proud to have made it this far because there were a lot of people who entered.

She said the pageant was a great platform for women because it empowered them and gave them an opportunity to do charity work in their communities.

“This programme does not only embrace beauty but focuses on hard working women from different backgrounds who can bring change into the world.”

She said the charity work she had been doing had made her to see life in a different perspective. “I visit different places where people are faced with some serious challenges. While some of us worry about having cereal or scrambled eggs for breakfast other people cannot afford to buy food for their families, cannot take their children to school, don’t have a house, and others are orphans while some children are facing abuse.”

Shoni said the experience had taught her to be thankful for the things she had. She added that she wanted to use the opportunity given her through the pageant to engage in more charity work around the province. She recently donated sanitary pads to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) ward. “I wanted to appreciate the mothers of the patients, to value them for taking care of their children who are hospitalised.”

Shoni said she understood how it felt to have children who were ill because she was a mother to two boys.

Shoni holds a BA degree from Wits University and a project management certificate from the University of York. She owns a property development company and wants to inspire other mothers to achieve their dreams and be able to take care of their families.

“I want them to love themselves and walk with pride as they are mothers. One has to be beautiful inside and out because it gives you a positive attitude in life.”

TLC ward administrative support officer, Sheila Nyalungu, said they were grateful for Shoni’s gifts. “Some of the mothers have left their jobs so that they can look after their children here. It is a great feeling to know that there are people who care out there and who are willing to assist us.”

She said she hoped the parents had learnt a lot from Shoni and that they would take her advice to empower  themselves.

Berther Mabunda from Giyani, a mother of a two-year-old cancer patient, said she was happy to received the gifts. “I have been in and out of the hospital since June last year taking care of my daughter. It is not easy to raise a child in these conditions when they are away from home but it’s also nice to know that other people care.”

The selection for the top 20 finalists of the 2015 Mrs South Africa beauty pageant will be held at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on Friday. To vote for Shoni, SMS Shoni to 35959 or like the facebook fan page Mrs South Africa top 100 semi-finalist and vote by liking her picture.