Zama Ntombela: A mirror to look upon

Soweto is a talent hub that produces phenomenal young people that still have the urge to remind South Africans of their unmatched capabilities.

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Zama Ntombela (24) a Miss Intercontinental South Africa finalist 2023 and foundation phase teacher, from Protea North is one of them.

She speaks about her journey within the pageant and some of the life lessons that pushes her towards being the best version of herself.

Beauty pageants have moved from being just a platform that glorifies the beauty of women. They have transitioned to being a vehicle that enables young women to discover their purpose in life.

“My journey in the pageant has been amazing because it continues to teach me a lot about myself.

“I love that I continue to discover things that contribute towards my personal growth and self-discovery,” said Ntombela.

Being an educator and spending your life speaking in front of a multitude of people, one would assume that public speaking is one of Ntombela’s strengths. However, she claims that the projects within the pageant have reignited her communication skills.

“I like that this pageant forces us to knock on doors for sponsorships and I am realising that my communication skills are not as bad as I thought they were,” she explained.

“I don’t know, it’s like a paradox because I am teacher and I should excel in speaking in front of people. I am learning to be present on circumstances that require me to deliver a speech.”

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Ntombela advocates for children’s rights as well as the importance of early childhood learning.

“Children are the greatest resources that we have for our future. If we tackle all the socio-economic issues that we have, we should start at the roots meaning children,” Ntombela continues.

According to Miss Intercontinental SA, nothing should hinder young people from Soweto to dream for a future that favours them.

Ntombela believes she is where she is because she never stopped dreaming of the life she wanted as a child.

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She advises young people to, “Always dream beyond your current circumstances and always follow your dreams as a young person. Because I have seen what that has done for me and how many negative connotations I have silenced.

“Each and every person’s background should be a place of reference, not a place of residence.

“All dreams are valid and work hard in ensuring that you attain every goal you set for yourself,” Ntombela concludes.

The finals of the Miss Intercontinental South Africa will take place on August 9 at a venue yet to be confirmed.