Growing up in Malavuwe village outside Thohoyandou, the young aspiring model Yolanda Ndiene Tshimbudzi had a dream of one day becoming a shining star in her village. That dream already seems to have become a reality and her star may only shine brighter in the near future.
Malavuwe is situated southwest of Tshirunzini and west of Tshivhazwaulu near Thohoyandou. The area plays host to many villages that offer few or limited opportunities and activities for the youth.
The scarceness of opportunities motivated Tshimbudzi to venture into modelling, and today she is a semi-finalist in the Miss Teen Glam South Africa pageant.
Tshimbudzi started her modelling career in 2017, and she had already won the Miss Classic Moonlight Personality in 2021, the Miss Mphephu Personality in 2021 and Miss Face of Courageous Second Princess in 2022.
"I started modelling to make a change in my community. Upon entering the Miss Teen Glam South Africa pageant, I mentioned that I come from an area where the youth don't have many opportunities," said the 17-year-old, ever-smiling model.
She said she wanted her peers to look at her and feel motivated.
"I want them to look at me and say, 'if she comes from the same village as us and she is doing it, we can also do it'. In other words, I need them to think positively," she added.
She is working in partnership with an NPO called Little Girl Arise, which aims to help disadvantaged girls..
Tshimbudzi said she would forever be grateful to her older sister, Mpho Gift Matodzi, who won the Miss Limpopo Province Plus Size pageant in 2021, and her mentor, Pfariso Pedrossa of Miss Face of Courageous.