Alex’s Oyama Tshazibana is a semi-finalist for Miss Teen Universe SA 2022
7th Avenue – "Even if I don’t win this pageant, I have made a promise to myself to continue giving back. It’s very important to me," said Oyama Tshazibana.
Oyama Tshazibana (18) from Alexandra is a semi-finalist in the Miss Teen Universe pageant.
She is currently pursuing her studies at the University of Johannesburg.
Tshazibana entered the pageant to help better the lives of other young people. “Pageants challenge one to do things that are totally out of their comfort zones,” she said.
“Pageants encourage growth and a lot of self-discovery because when I entered pageants for the first time in 2020, I didn’t know what I really stand for, I didn’t know who I really was and I wasn’t as confident as I am now. From a young age I have always wanted to inspire, touch a life or two and pageants are the right platform for that as we do community service. Even if I don’t win this pageant, I have made a promise to myself to continue give back. It’s very important to me.”
Tshazibana is currently running a clothing drive for an organisation that provides food for people in Alex and also helps children with their schoolwork.
“The clothing drive has been running since the first week of May and will end mid-June 2021. My aim is to make people from my community still feel they are cared for. I want to instill hope in them because hope is the reason human beings keep going.”
Tshazibana plans on going to another organisation on 16 June in Alex to spend a day with children.
“I hope this becomes a success too. I have been approaching big companies and people to help me on this day but there hasn’t been any luck as yet because I spend all my Saturdays of every week at St Mary’s [school] for the Ikusasa-lethu Saturday school programme. This is me giving back time to the programme that contributed to the person I am today. It helped me with improving my marks and confidence. The programme really believes in the future of Alex kids as it only takes in kids from Alexandra high schools and because of that I will always be grateful to it.”
Tshazibana is pleading with the community to vote for her so that she becomes a finalist.
“I would also appreciate clothing donations too. To donate clothes, please text me on 078 581 6782. To vote for me, deposit cash into MTUSA FNB account (Mr Nkosinathi G Gumede); acc number: 62890009791; reference: Oyama Tshazibana and send proof of payment to this WhatsApp number: 071 678 0700.
The date of the pageant has not been announced at this stage.
ALSO READ: Miss SA runner-up encourages the youth of Alex
