Durban model eyes pageant title

MORNINGSIDE’S Nkululeko Mbatha has an exciting weekend ahead of him as he travels to Johannesburg to represent Durban and KZN at the final of the Mr and Miss King and Queen of South Africa pageant.

Nkululeko, (24), is a professional commercial model signed with Boss Models and is also an influencer, a pageant coach and a qualified PR practitioner, having graduated with his BTech Degree in PR Communications Management from DUT in April.

“I am excited to be one of four finalists from KZN who qualified for the final show on 16 June at Emperors Palace. The winner will get to represent South Africa on an international stage as Mr International SA. I’m more than ready for the final, physically and emotionally, and no matter what happens, I know I will still come out of this experience as a better person,” he said.

The aspiring events planner said he first started taking part in pageants in 2014, something he never thought he would do!

“I was in res at DUT and a friend at res said I should take part in a pageant. Since then I have done various modelling events and was Mr DUT in 2016. I went on to represent at Mr SA Campus 2017 and was placed first runner-up. I signed with Boss Models in November and after that I decided to take the next step forward. After I read about the Mr International SA pageant, I decided to enter and sent in my last-minute entry at the end of January,” he said.

The top 18 were announced on Facebook in February and Nkululeko said he was very excited, but nervous, to see his name on the list. He attended a boot camp in Pretoria in April when attendees were given pointers on how to prepare for the final, and Nkululeko also met sponsors who have groomed people successfully for the industry.

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“We were also taught how to create good publicity for ourselves to encourage people to vote for us, even though at the end of the day, the best will win, regardless of the votes. I’m really looking forward to the final on Sunday and feel I have had sufficient time to prepare,” he said.

Nkululeko said whatever the outcome, he would still take something from the event, even if it isn’t a title.

“I believe in putting everything into a passion and I have taught myself that I am a better person than I thought I was. Growing up in a rural area you get the mindset that there are things that you aren’t entitled to do, but this is wrong and I want to go far in my life. By the time I’m 30, I want to be something big, although I don’t know what that is yet! I’m doing this for my gran, who has been my and my siblings’ pillar since my parents passed. I have an amazing support system through her, my family and friends, and I’m going to the finals not only for myself, but for all who have believed in me and prayed for me, it’s an amazing feeling,” he said.

To vote for Nkululeko, SMS: WIN KSA05 to 47439. Visit: Mr and Miss King and Queen of South Africa on Facebook. Nkululeko’s social media handles are @nkululeko_mbatha for Instagram and Nkululeko Mbatha for Facebook.

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