A YOUNG woman from Nelson Mandela Bay is hoping to educate society and recreate the definition of beauty by taking part in a pageant aimed at men and women with albinism.
By participating in Mr and Miss Albinism South Africa early next year, 34-year-old Mandisa Makunga also hopes to empower others with the same condition, by inspiring them to be go-getters and not be afraid to stand out in a crowd.
“When I heard about this competition, I saw it as an opportunity to raise awareness around albinism and also a platform for me to encourage young girls and boys to walk confidently and embrace and enhance the beauty of albinism,” she said.
“I am the only one with albinism in my family and I believe that the pageant will give me an opportunity to create the difference that I would like to see in the next generation of people with albinism,” she added.
Makunga, who works as an administrator at the Department of Justice, mentioned that there were some misconceptions in society when it comes to albinism. “I have been lucky enough to not experience any bullying or discrimination and people are not afraid of me. I think it’s because I am not shy at all.
“However, the misunderstanding that I come across frequently is that some tend to think I am a lucky charm.
“Others think that I have the winning lotto numbers but I usually tell them if people with albinism had that kind of information, we would own islands,” she said with a laugh.
She emphasised that albinism is just a lack of melanin, nothing more, nothing less and that educating others about this is one of her goals.
“The pageant provides a platform for me to assist parents and children with albinism who live in rural areas to understand their condition. I would be able to guide them as to how to take care of their skin and eyes and have mentoring programmes for both young and old.
“Children would then know from a young age what albinism is and how to deal with it,” she explained.
“At the end of the day, my hope is just to live in a community that accepts diversity. I also want to tell my albinism community that we are the light of the world. It is our birth right to shine and stand out, so let us refuse to blend in.”
The Mr and Miss Albinism South Africa pageant, founded by the Godfrey Mphatswe Foundation, is the first of its kind and scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 27, 2021. Makunga is the only contestant representing the Eastern Cape. “It is such an honour to be representing my province but it is actually mostly overwhelming,” Makunga said.
“However, for a person with albinism who wants to enter a beauty pageant, I will always say do it. Even if you are scared, walk with the strength that you already possess.”
