A 25-year-old model and social media influencer from Worcester has been chosen as one of the finalists in the Miss South Africa pageant.
Nande Mabala from Zwelethemba is a model, micro-influencer, philanthropist and a triple-major BA graduate.
She believes her courage, tenacity and drive have moulded her into the woman she is today. Mabala has a deep pride in her story and where she comes from, because it is what helps build community among people from all walks of life.
She had previously entered the Miss Mamelodi Sundowns pageant and was one of the princesses in the Western Cape leg of the Miss South Africa pageant.
Mabala has a BA degree in industrial psychology, political science and sociology from the University of the Western Cape. She currently is a freelance marketing assistant and model.
And this year she took the next step in her career by entering Miss South Africa 2023.
Mabala said she saw entering the pageant as an opportunity to elevate her into a leadership position that will teach her skills that will assist her in her passion to change the world.
“I understand how vital representation is to the empowerment of women. I want to use representation workshops to empower and equip young women with intangible resources of leadership, resilience, courage and discipline, which will help them on the path of finding their way and discover who they are and show them the innate power they possess. Putting their lives back into their own hands.”
She also feels the importance of a beauty pageant is it helps to elevate women into leaders and give them a platform to showcase their intelligence and what they can do and achieve. It shows the power and force that a woman is.
What qualities should a woman possess to make a notable difference in the world?
“Courage, resilience and discipline are necessary qualities,” Mabala declared.
She said much of her inspiration came from her parents.
Her mother, Karen, is a WO2 in the South African Navy, and the best self-taught cook she knows, according to her daughter.
Her father, Mbulelo, is the Head of Security at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa). He is a formerly exiled military veteran who takes every opportunity to share stories and lessons about fighting for freedom and for a democratic South Africa.
Mabala is co-founder of the Uyathandwa Foundation, a non-profit organisation established in 2021, aimed at empowering and advocating for all previously disadvantaged groups in South Africa.
She says it focuses on impacting lives through outreach programmes, giving food hampers and advocating for the safety of women and girls. Most memorable is the Food for Thought drive, which saw food hampers distributed to households most affected by poverty in Zwelethemba.
Furthermore, what do you love about South Africa?
“I love the diversity of our country. It has bred a generation that is patient with one another, open to learning about one another’s cultures and even more open to accepting one another’s differences.
How do you define success?
Success to me is achieving the goals you have set out for yourself. It is getting the intended outcome.
What do you like most about yourself?
I like my mind. It has helped me navigate and achieve even in the face of adversity.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I would change how hard I am on myself and practise grace.
What do you think is the biggest problem facing young people today?
I think it is knowing who they are and finding their voice and individuality. They deal with the pressures of social media and society, which affect their mental health.
Who are your local and international female role models and why?
Bonang Matheba and Michelle Obama. Bonang left Live, the show that gave her her big break in presenting, without a plan of where her career would take her next, but she had faith in herself and what she could achieve. She taught me how to bet on myself. Obama taught me the importance of having pride in one’s own story and finding one’s light, or becoming, is a process. Most importantly, to be teachable and willing to learn and enjoy yourself.
Follow Mabala on her social media:
. Facebook: Nande Mabala
. Instagram: @nande_mabala
. Twitter: @nande_mabala
. TikTok: @nande_mabala
