Fifteen-year-old Avron Nhluleko Rasekutuma from Hamavhunda village, outside Thohoyandou, is dead set on wearing the Miss South Africa crown one day.
This ambitious young lady, who is currently in Grade 10 at Mphaphuli Secondary School, first fell in love with modelling when she was just five years old. Her mother, Ms Leonah Sungulo Hulisani Nkuna, who has become her daughter's number one fan over the years, relived Avron's modelling journey up until now when she spoke to this newspaper.
"In 2013 (when Avron was in Grade R), a friend of mine, Nsuku Mabunda, invited me to come watch as she partook in a beauty contest at Hluvuka High School in Nkuzana, so I took Avron with me. My daughter was never the same after that. From that day on, she insisted on being called Nsuku, after her role model, and it was clear that she wanted to do modelling, just like Nsuku. She asked me to buy her high heels and she would model for us at home. She started doing modelling in 2014, when she was at Mtsetweni Primary School, and has not looked back since. With such zeal and determination, she is destined for greater things in this industry," said Nkuna.
Her road to stardom looks bright indeed. Last year, Avron won two of the beauty pageants she entered. The Miss Cultural Princess 2022/23 pageant was held at Tourist Park Tshilungoma on 10 December, and the Miss Teen Duthuni 2022/23 at Siphugu Car Wash in Duthuni on 11 December.
Avron is oozing confidence, determined to break into the world of beauty. "My dream is to see myself on stage competing for the Miss SA title. I will do this to make my mother proud, as she is my pillar of strength, the one who accompanies me to all the competitions I enter. I will not be doing [her] justice if I do not thank the former Miss Hlanganani 2010 and Miss Hluvuka High 2013 winner, Ms Nsuku Mabunda, who has become my mentor," she said.