Like many other young women, Washu Hlabioa of Thohoyandou has been dreaming of making a big impact in the world of beauty since she was a little girl. Her dream already seems to start paying dividends at the tender age of 16 as she wins one beauty pageant after another.
Washu is a Grade 11 pupil at PEMPS College in Polokwane. She has already taken part in 30 different beauty pageants and has won more than 20 of them. Her star truly shines brightly, for she is to represent Limpopo at the finals of the Miss Teen Universe South Africa 2022 that takes place on Saturday, 12 March, in Durban.
"The reason why I entered the pageant is because I want to bring change and spread positivity by being the first girl from this area to win this competition. This will bring change to the Miss Limpopo brand by expanding their resources to the rural communities, and I will continue to spread diversity and unity in Limpopo Province," said Washu.
As a finalist, Washu also wants to focus specifically on the youth and people living with disabilities. "I told myself to put in the extra effort and be dedicated, so that I could also be selected as a finalist and make my village proud," she said. "It feels amazing, exciting, and I am honoured to now be among the finalists."
She describes herself as a friendly and generous person, who also loves helping other people. "I'm using my platform to lead as an example to my peers and our future leaders of Limpopo by hosting different campaigns and workshops that are free for any interested individual. The workshops deal with educational topics such as health, business, career guidance, social issues, cosmetics and, obviously, modelling. My aim in life is to educate people that you don't need to have a large bank balance to make a difference; you only need yourself and one soul in need," she said.