Mr South Africa pageant has experienced a surge in black contestants in recent years, and Alexandra’s Thabang Kolobe is one of them.
Kolobe was born in Mafikeng, but bred in Alexandra and Soweto, and is one of the remaining 50 from an initial 118 who entered the contest in January. The top 25 will be announced in June and the finals will be in December.
A background of poverty did not discourage Thabang as his parents nurtured him to focus on self-empowerment. This made him realise the pitfalls of substance abuse, lack of commitment to education, anti-social behaviour and lack of family cohesion. “Many colleagues committed crimes ending in prison, others lost interest in school and no one helped them to change their negative ways,” he said. “I realised the importance of role models at an early age and though I didn’t develop to be one then, I nurtured this desire until now,” he said.
His view is that traditional African society regarded modelling as a show-off of clothing and physical grace, and not for its many positive attributes such as leadership development, resilience, sympathy, charity work, desire for success and to be number one. “I entered this contest because I want to pass on these characteristics to the youths to help them change their negative lifestyles. Most of them have absent fathers and no immediate role models, and live in conditions which make them prone to anti-social activities,” Thabang emphasised.
A trained model, his path to the pageant was shaped after winning the overall Mr Central Johannesburg College contest last year. This after being involved in social commitments such as working for a week at Hands of Compassion and a crèche.
His parents, five sisters and friends are routing for him in anticipation of sharing the glory and glamour of a young man with a heart for others. “I urge youths to dream like children and persevere, as nothing is impossible with effort and dedication,” Thabang concluded.
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