Evander model is finalist in national pageant
Aphelele Nomangola is also the founder of Trailblazers, an initiative aimed at empowering young girls.
Aphelele Nomangola is proudly representing Evander and the province of Mpumalanga as a finalist in the International Miss South Africa.
Her pageantry journey began in 2019, when she entered Miss Teen Ekasi and was crowned Second Princess.
The experience inspired her to pursue bigger opportunities in the pageantry industry. She later competed in Miss Teen South Africa and achieved another milestone after being crowned First Princess.
Nomangola said one of her dreams was to represent South Africa internationally in Turkey, but financial difficulties prevented that opportunity from becoming a reality.
Despite the setback, she continued pursuing her passion and later competed as a finalist in Teen Universe.
Photo: Supplied
She said the experience taught her that a person’s worth is not determined by titles but by the impact they make in their community.
Today, beyond pageantry, Nomangola is also the founder of Trailblazers, an initiative aimed at empowering young girls through confidence building, leadership development, modelling, and promoting the message of “beauty with brains.”
Her advocacy focuses on youth empowerment and mental wellness. Through school visits, mentorship programmes, youth work, and community initiatives, she hopes to create safe spaces where young people feel heard, valued, and inspired to believe in themselves.
“My journey has not always been easy. There were moments when finances stood in the way, opportunities were lost, and dreams felt distant.
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“But every setback became preparation. Today, I am standing here because I chose not to quit,” she said.
As she continues her journey toward the International Miss South Africa crown, Nomangola has appealed for public support and votes.
She said every vote represents support for a young woman committed to community impact and empowering the next generation.
Community members can support her by following her on social media under the name Aphelele Nomangola and voting via the provided competition link.
She is also seeking sponsorship assistance of R11 000 to support her journey in the competition.
Anyone willing to contribute can contact her on 079 316 2659.
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