Luluto Menziwa (14) is not your average Grade 8 learner at Westering High School.
This young dynamo, who also models for V-Models PE and holds the title of beauty pageant queen, has a heart as big as her dreams.
Born in East London, Menziwa moved to Gqeberha two years ago. The teen is passionate about advocating for destitute children who are orphaned, abused, and abandoned.
Menziwa is in the process of launching her foundation, “Lifting Lives”, aimed at supporting and caring for underprivileged children.
“I’ve witnessed suffering and seen a huge number of abandoned, abused, orphaned, and destitute children. This gave me a spark of desire to help them,” she said.
“I want to contribute to them living life like any happy child. I felt compassion and empathy, which gave me the drive to start advocating for them and give them a sense of purpose.”
Her list of achievements is impressive. The teen beauty queen is a netball player on her school’s B team and has been crowned Miss Pre-Teen Port Elizabeth in July 2023, Miss Pre-Teen Universe Eastern Cape in 2024, and Miss Pre-Teen Globe International South Africa.
She also won a Special Award and qualified for Provincial Colours in the “Show Your Talent” competition in 2024, earning a spot on Team SA for Talent America 2025 in New York. Additionally, she is a finalist for Gold Talent International, taking place this month, and has registered for International Junior Miss South Africa 2024.
Despite her busy schedule, Menziwa finds time for her hobbies, which include drawing, reading, watching movies and making beads.
She admits that her height (shorter than most models) once made her insecure, but she has since embraced it as a unique feature.
“Without the help of V-Models, my parents, and God’s grace, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I thank you all for the guidance and support,” she said.
Her experience in beauty pageants has been transformative.
“I started off feeling insecure and not ready to express myself on stage and in front of judges, but the more I entered, the more I gained my butterfly wings, which gave me a spark of uniqueness and self-confidence,” she shares.
“When I compete, I keep my values and goals in order to reach my dream of getting crowned. I don’t see the crown as a title, but a responsibility.
“It’s not as hectic as it may seem,” said Menziwa on balancing her various roles as a student, model, netball player, and beauty pageant queen.
“Each day of the week is planned for a task to be completed, and I do have rest days. That’s how I manage my time and balance my extra-murals and duties as a pageant queen.”
Menziwa’s foundation, “Lifting Lives” aims to make a significant impact.
“I plan to lift the lives of those who have fallen, like the underprivileged children. I want to make a big impact with this foundation, not only as a support system, but also as a place where underprivileged children can be lifted and given the life they deserve,” she explained.
She stressed that the support from V-Models PE, her parents, and her faith has been instrumental in her success.
“I have grown as a person in terms of confidence. I’m able to express myself so much more on runways and stages, all thanks to V-Models PE. My parents have also played a big role in supporting me and pushing me to do my best.”
Her journey, however, has not been without challenges.
“The main challenge I face is financial issues. Money is needed to represent my country in other countries, which is hard to get. It breaks my heart not to go far and wide to represent my country, but it never holds me back from doing my best until I get that opportunity,” she revealed.
“I recently missed the opportunity to represent my country in July at Paraguay as Miss Pre-Teen Globe South Africa due to finances. I hope and pray I won’t miss the opportunity to go to New York in 2025.”
Looking ahead, Menziwa is excited about her upcoming participation in Talent America 2025.
“Talent America 2025 is a big opportunity, a new goal that has awakened. I can’t wait to take on this competition and do my absolute best. It’s all about showing off your talent, and my talent is obviously modelling,” she said enthusiastically.
As for her preparation for the International Junior Miss South Africa 2024, the eager teen plans to showcase her full potential.
“I plan to prepare by performing to my best as much as possible, gaining new experiences, and making the most of it. It’s never about winning. It’s about personal growth and enjoying the journey,” she concluded.
