Lisinda wants to empower women

THE MRS Africa organisation has just announced its Top 40 Mrs Africa 2016 Continental Finalists, and one of them is Alberton resident Lisinda Thomas (40).

Women from Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, Swaziland, Mauritius and South Africa will be competing against each other in this pageant.

Mrs Africa is a platform to empower and enrich women and since this is a passion of mine I entered and I ended up in the Top 40,” said Lisinda.

Contestants had to submit a detailed portfolio of themselves, and the judges chose from there.

“For me, beauty does not just come from the outside, but from the inside; women should not be ashamed of who they are and where they come from,” she added.

Lisinda told the COURIER that she is overwhelmed with emotions about being in the Top 40.

She explained that she has wanted to make a difference in the lives of girls and women since she was a child.

“With Mrs Africa I get the chance to make a difference as an ordinary person,” she added.

There will be further eliminations before the finals, in November.

“In the meantime, we, as finalists, have five months in which to do charity and community work, where we have to raise funds and reach out to women. The money we raise is for the two charity groups, The Dignity Dream and Nzuri Project, which Mrs Africa supports,” said Lisinda.

The Dignity Dream project donates washable sanitary towels to less fortunate girls, andthe Nzuri project helps woman who suffers from the endemic goiter to have surgery.

“I want to bring back the dignity of women and young girls,” Lisinda explained.

Lisinda was born on September 24, 1975, in Ennerdale, and matriculated at Fred Norman Secondary School.

After school she worked as a corporate environment financial professional for 18 years before she stepped out and started working as an image consultant.

“As an image consultant I evaluate, improve, enhance, update, or upgrade a person’s appearance, to ensure that their image is consistent with their personal and professional roles,” she explained.

”I assist women to gain self-confidence, be strong, independent and positive, and to learn to conceal the negative.”

Lisinda has been married for 18 years, to her school sweetheart, Kewin, and they have two sons, Keanu (15) and Limano (11).

In her spare time she helps people with spiritual upliftment, interacts with the youth and spends a lot of time with her family.

“I love to take out my boys and to entertain them,” said Lisinda.

This beautiful mother is also an adrenaline junkie, who loves the outdoors.

“Sky diving is one of the things on my bucket list,” she said.

During the interview, Lisinda said that her life goals are to make a difference in the life of one woman per day.

To make them believe that, if they conceive their dreams in their minds, they can achieve them.

Her mother, Nellie Oliphant (70), is her biggest inspiration in life.

“She has just won her fight against cancer; she is a woman of prayer and strength, I want to be just like her,” said Lisinda with tears in her eyes.

Lisinda described herself as a hard worker, who is passionate about everything in life. One who is confident, who inspires and who portrays elegance.

Asked how one stays beautiful at the age of 40, she replied that it is important to be content with what you are, to look after yourself, eat healthily and stay active.

Her life motto is: ”Dress for where you want to be”.

According to Lisinda, people can help her by liking her photo on the Mrs Africa Facebook Page.

“I am a child of Alberton, soil and surrounding areas, and would love to have the support of the residents to stand as a role model,” said the motivated Lisinda.

Her advice to young girls and women is that it is never too late to follow their dreams. They must change the way they see life and start being proud.

“It is the package of bad and good things that make you unique,” she concluded.

Follow Lisinda on Facebook, as Lisinda Thomas-Mrs Africa Finalist, on Twitter, or on Instagram.

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