The 2020 Miss South Africa title holder, Shudufhadzo Musida, might not have had enough time to enjoy her crown because of the Covid-19 restrictions during her reign, but she has become an inspiration to many other girls and young women from rural areas.
Twenty-two-year-old Nakisani Munarini of Ha Masia Tshipuseni is among her avid admirers, who still regard Musida as her biggest role model. Munarini has vowed to follow in Musida's footsteps by one day winning the coveted Miss South Africa title, and she seems to be well on her way. She has been selected as a finalist in the Miss Makhado Royal Beauty Pageant, which is to be held on 10 December this year.
Munarini is a bachelor of environmental sciences graduate from Univen. Her passion for modelling started right after she had finished her studies in 2020. "People were always complementing me on my looks wherever I went and told me I would make a good model. I did not take this seriously at first as I was more focused on my studies. When Musida won the Miss South Africa title in 2020, I decided to give it a go, with the motivation from my father."
She considers herself very fortunate to have made it to the finals in the Miss Makhado Royal pageant. "The Miss Makhado Royal has cleared the road ahead and given me the self-confidence I need. It is a great foundation and a steppingstone for me to achieve my goal of wearing the Miss South Africa crown. If a rural girl like Musida could make it that far, what can stop me from achieving my dreams?" Munarini asked.