Miss Natural Mamelodi winners photo supplied
The 1st Annual Miss Natural Mamelodi beauty pageant was held on August 09 at the Mamelodi West Community Hall amidst the glitter and glamour that accompanies such ceremonies.
“The Miss Natural Mamelodi pageant is not just a pageant, it’s a revolution in confidence and a celebration of authenticity,” enthused the pageant’s founder and director Lesego Phetla in an exclusive interview with Tshwane Talks this week.
The flamboyant 25-year-old Phetla told Tshwane Talks that the pageant was conceptualised by a simple yet powerful truth that holds that beauty is not defined by society’s narrow standards.
“Beauty lives in every shade, every shape, every size, every texture and every story and I have therefore created this pageant to give women a stage where they don’t have to change who they are in order to be celebrated because they are already worthwhile exactly the way they are,” enthused Phetla.
“This pageant is more than a competition; it’s a movement for self-love and empowerment as it teaches women to stand tall in their own skin; to embrace what makes them unique and to know that their value is not measured by how closely they fit into someone else’s idea of beauty,” said the articulate Phetla.
“I was influenced by my own journey in pageantry as well as the incredible women I’ve met along the way; women whose confidence, kindness and authenticity shone brighter than any crown,” she said.
She said through the pageant she wants to send the following message to the community at large:
“You are enough, you are beautiful and your natural self is powerful beyond any measure.”
She emphasised that the Miss Natural Mamelodi beauty pageant is not only about sashes and titles “but that it’s about creating a legacy of confidence, acceptance and pride in who we are.”
Now to make sure that the pageant comes to fruition on 9 August, Lesego Phetla was assisted by local Ward Councillor Madonsela who booked the hall on her behalf.
A company called Amahle Properties also lended a hand towards the success of the pageant in the form of a donation.
His parents Angel Phetla and Nico Madiseng also helped her out in running the show and also helping her out wherever they could.
Though there were no cash prizes on offer for the pageant’s three winners this year, there’s hope that going forward sponsors would come on board to offer cash prizes for the winners.
The results of the pageant are as follows:
1. Queen-Oratilwe Sibande.
2. 1st Princess- Basetsana Phetla.
3. 2nd Princess – Nqibile Kabini.
2nd Princess Nqibile Kabini said Miss Natural Mamelodi pageant was an empowering platform that has created unforgettable memories for her because she has managed to win the 2nd Princess title.
“I feel a sense of pride and the warmth of the other contestants and that of their their families, as well as that of the runners of the competition is unmatched,” said Kabini.
She pointed out that due to the harmonious spirit that prevailed during the pageant, the beauty contest didn’t feel like a competition at all and that the 2nd Princess position she managed to obtain in the pageant is a tribute to herself.