Becoming a pageant queen to help the community

At some point or another, everyone has felt they are not being listened to, but when you have something to say that needs to be heard, you need to make sure people are listening.

Roodekrans resident Yeshica Persad knew from a young age she wanted to make a positive change in the world, but was not really sure how to do it. From as far back as her primary school days, Yeshica participated in pageants, though she took a brief break in high school to focus on her schoolwork. Since starting her studies at IIE MSA (formerly Monash University), Yeshica has re-joined the pageant world with a goal other than a sparkling crown and sash in mind.

Yeshica said she enters pageants for many reasons, but the main one would be the title that comes with a win. She said that making a difference through community outreach projects was always on her mind, but she knew that no one would really listen to a 19-year-old girl just barely taking her first steps into adulthood. However, she felt that if she could put a title such as Miss Pretoria West in front of her name, people would be more willing to listen. “The best way to make a change is through education, and in order to successfully educate the community, I needed them to listen to me. Which is why the titles at pageants are so important to me,” said Yeshica.

Even though she lives in Roodekrans, Yeshica’s father lives in Pretoria, so she entered the pageant and excelled, going home with the Miss Pretoria West Second Princess title. She is now also a finalist for the Miss Gauteng Exclusive 2021 pageant and a semi-finalist for the Miss Legacy SA pageant, where she will be representing Gauteng. With her Second Princess title under her belt and a few more prospective titles on the horizon, Yeshica finally took the first steps to launching her own charity organisation.

The 19-year-old beauty queen is in the process of registering the Making A Change Foundation as a non-profit organisation (NPO) and even though she is waiting for confirmation of the registration, she has already been doing her part to help local communities. Yeshica has collected various donations for FORA (Friends of Rescued Animals) as well as Tjokkertjies vir Jesus Pre School, and Zandspruit Primary School. The Making A Change Foundation is also collecting clothes and sanitary products for a separate outreach.

If you would like to find out more about the Making A Change Foundation and keep an eye on their progress with becoming a registered NPO, or if you are interested in getting involved, email Yeshica at blossom2506@outlook.com or visit the foundation’s Instagram page: @makingachangefoundation2506 and send them a private message.