The lovely Shudufhadzo Musida inspired many rural girls when she won the Miss South Africa title in 2020, giving them hope that they too could overcome any situation or obstacle and achieve the best in life. One such a girl is 11-year-old Tshifhiwa Masindi from the Makwarela Township, who has made it to the top 20 finalists in the toddler category of the Miss Majesty SA 2023 beauty pageant.
The young model has every attribute, as well as the necessary ambition that goes with it, to make it in the world of beauty. The journey in modelling and beauty pageants of the Grade 7 learner at Mmbara Primary School in Makwarela, Sibasa, started in 2021. "I was so motivated to see Shudufhadzo Musida, a rural girl from Hamasia, taking the Miss South Africa crown that year. Being a Muvenda girl, she has paved the way for many of us. It gave me so much hope that I decided to give it a go too, and in 2021 I started entering beauty contests at my school. So far, I have tried my luck in competitions like the Miss Hangwani and the Miss Cultural Princess, which I managed to win. In 2022 I entered the Miss Itani but was not counted. For now, I am focussing my energy on the Miss Majesty SA contest," she said.
The crowning ceremony is to be held at the Faith of Thalita Koum Church, next to the power station in Sibasa, on Saturday, 23 September.
Tshifhiwa says that although many girls her age have entered the pageant, she is not scared of the competition. "There are many categories, like Miss Majesty Queen, Miss Teen, Miss Toddler, and the Miss Public Choice. I will win my category, and this will open many doors for me. I would love to see myself winning the Miss South Africa pageant one day and going on to conquer the world," she said.