Daveyton resident Barbara Zodwa Vakele (26) is living proof of this.
Born deaf, Vakele is living her dream after making it into the top 10 of the Miss Deaf SA competition recently.
Although she did not take the title of Miss Deaf SA last Saturday at Parkview in Pretoria, Vakele is still positive about what the future holds for her.
In addition to her love of modeling, Vakele is also working as a chef at a hotel in Kempton Park.
“At the age of three I went to study at the Katlehong School for the Deaf and Blind.
“After completing Grade Nine, I moved to St Vincent School for the Deaf to do my Grade 10 and 11.
“I then proceeded to NID College for the Deaf in Cape Town, where I did a four year learnership for professional cookery, which I completed in 2012,” Vakele says.
She discovered her love for modeling at the age of 15 and is now glad she has started pursing her dream.
“I joined a performing art school last year, doing stage acting and dancing, and after that, my teacher got me in touch with the Miss Deaf SA people.
“She knew I wanted to become a famous model one day so that I could encourage other deaf young people to have self-esteem and to live their dreams.
“My goal is to exceed what the greatest women can do and to show others that deaf people can do what normal people do,” she says.
Vakele looks up to her mother, Lettie Vakele, who she regards as her role model.
In her spare time she loves dancing, taking pictures, cooking and spending time with her friends.
“As people living with a disability we need to dream big, be proud of ourselves and live without being ashamed just because we are different,” says Vakele.
Her mother says she is proud of all her daughter has achieved despite her disability.
