Sixteen-year-old Ntshuxeko Wesllie Chauke from Malamulele is among the Top 20 finalists in the Miss Elegance Limpopo 2023 Teen Beauty Pageant, and she has high hopes of winning the competition. The crowning ceremony takes place at the Polokwane Library Gardens on 30 September, and all she needs now to win the competition is support from the public.
"People can support me by either donating sanitary towels, so that I can donate them to schools, or they can help me raise funds to prove my capabilities. They can also support me by following me on social media and sharing the work I do in the community," she said.
Born and raised in Phaweni village, in the Malamulele region, Ntshuxeko started her modelling journey in 2018, being greatly inspired by former Miss SA and Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi.
"Zozi is my absolute inspiration. I am the model I am today because of her. She made me realise many things about life, and one of these is to just be yourself. She helped me gain self-confidence. After visiting her wall on Instagram, I realised that I could become what I have always dreamt of. I remember when Zozi joined Miss SA in 2018, and she didn't make it. She didn't lose hope. In 2019, she entered the competition again and became Miss South Africa and Miss Universe. That is the thing that inspired me most."
Ntshuxeko said that being a model had been an amazing experience for her so far. "I have really learned a lot about the industry. I learned how to take care of someone, and also to inspire other young black children that, with confidence, you can do whatever you want to do without failure," she said.
Follow Ntshuxeko on her Facebook page (Chauke Ntshuxeko Wesllie).