SEDIBENG. – Busisiwe Tshabalala (18), a matric learner at Phoenix High School and the reigning Miss Phoenix High 2025/26, is a young woman whose journey is rooted in resilience, faith, and purpose.

Currently a Miss Face of Evaton 2026 finalist, Tshabalala is using her platform to inspire young people to believe in themselves, heal from their pain, and rise beyond their circumstances.

Her love for poetry began in 2022 during a season when she struggled to express her emotions.

Feeling unheard and overwhelmed, she discovered dramatised poetry at her school’s arts festival. With no formal training or experience, she performed a powerful poem that spoke to her own inner wilderness.

She connected to the words so deeply that she performed in torn clothing and dramatic makeup to tell the story of a street child. That first performance won her first place — but more importantly, it awakened her purpose.

Poetry became her language of healing.

Encouraged by that moment, Tshabalala began writing her own poems and performing at school events and honours evenings to build her confidence.

Through art, she learned to turn pain into purpose. Her passion grew into a dream of becoming an actress and storyteller. In faith, she prayed for opportunities — and in 2023, those prayers found form when she joined a youth film programme called MACFLAS (Make A Child Feel Like A Star).

There, she learned to write and act, even staying behind on stormy afternoons to learn when others had left.

Her dedication led to her first film role as a main character in Breaking Barriers, now released on YouTube. Standing in front of cameras and crews was once unimaginable to her — but that experience reshaped her confidence and showed her that her dreams were valid. The recognition she received from peers affirmed her belief that purpose fills the empty spaces within us.

In 2024, Tshabalala experienced a season of discouragement and silence from her creative work. Yet through personal connections and reflection, she rediscovered her voice and returned to writing poetry — including a deeply personal piece titled A Smile in the Brokenness, which represents healing after pain.

Determined to rise again, she took on leadership at her school, becoming president of BEMS & GEMS, where she used her voice to uplift others. Her leadership journey prepared her for a challenge she never imagined for herself: pageantry. Despite financial constraints, self-doubt, and feeling out of place among more resourced contestants, Tshabalala stepped onto the stage with faith. On the day of the pageant, supported by her family and driven by inner belief, she carried herself with grace and courage — and was crowned Miss Phoenix High School 2025/26 in her very first pageant.

Beyond titles, Tshabalala’s heart is rooted in service. In 2025, she started “The Emergency Pads Box” at Phoenix High School after witnessing how some girls struggled to access sanitary products. She used her own pocket money to buy the first pads, and today the initiative continues with support from the school.

As Miss Phoenix High and Miss Face of Evaton finalist, she continues to serve her community through motivational speaking, poetry, school visits, and youth empowerment initiatives.

“God should not judge us by what we have or don’t have,” Tshabalala said, “but by the heart we carry.”

Her story is a reminder that greatness does not begin with having everything — it begins with believing in something bigger than yourself. Through faith, art, and service, Busisiwe Tshabalala is turning her wounds into wisdom and her story into a light for others.