Emalahleni’s Emeldah to Mrs SA semi-final

These are also some of the words used to describe Emeldah Sema.
Emeldah, a beautiful 30-year-old mother of two sons, radiates confidence when she walks into a room. With the sophisticated manner in which she presents herself and her elegant style, it’s not hard to see why she was chosen, the only one in the entire Mpumalanga, to go through to the semi-finals of Mrs SA 2015.

Emeldah is one of the top 100 semi-finalists recently announced for the pageant, out of a record number of entries received by the organisation.
These beautiful, sophisticated and married women from all over South Africa, came together for a women-empowering workshop which took place at Emperors Palace on March 7 to prepare them for their journey ahead.
“As the pageant grows, so does the number and quality of entrants, and this year proves to be no different,” the CEO of the organisation, Joani Johnson, said.

Mrs South Africa pageant has earned the reputation of a women-empowerment programme and prides itself on real, bona fide women.
“It’s not about beauty,” Emeldah said recently as she spoke about the pageant.
“Married women, mothers and women of all shapes and sizes were chosen for this pageant.” Emeldah went on explaining that it is in the way a woman presents herself that determines whether she is a suitable candidate.
“Sophisticated women, strong women who don’t allow themselves to be intimidated but who overcome their own inferiorities.”
Emeldah is proud to be a woman, proud to be a mother and wife.

Originally from Nelspruit, this mother and parent had also faced many challenges in her life. Instead of letting intimidation and criticism from people bring her down, she used it as inspiration to rise up and find her own strengths.
“Women often lose themselves; lose their own identity once they get married.” Emeldah said, explaining how women starting a family would often step down and be the quiet and complicit figures society wants them to be.
“You can be a strong, empowered woman and still raise a family.” Emeldah stated. “For a family to be strong, the person who builds it must be strong.”

Emeldah keeps a positive outlook on life and doesn’t allow anything to bring her down. “My son said to me the other day: ‘I’m happy, because you’re happy’.”
Being a fulltime mother, Emeldah also finds the time to be actively involved in charity work and supports the local Cancer Association (CANSA).
Emeldah and the 99 other semi-finalists will go on to compete at the semi-final weekend, held at Emperor’s Palace, where they will be submitted to gruelling judging sessions by an esteemed panel of judges headed by Principal Judge, Cindy Nell-Roberts.
From all the candidates, only 25 women will be selected as finalists who will be announced at the annual CANSA Gala Dinner on April 24 at Emperors Palace’s Centre Court.

*Emeldah needs your support to be crowned as Mrs SA 2015. To vote for our bona fide lady from eMalahleni and Mpumalanga, SMS: Emeldah Sema to 35959 (SMSs costs R3). Visit Mrs South Africa’s website for more information about the Mrs SA pageant.