THE search is on for the next Mrs Commonwealth South Africa and Glenvista’s own Khutso Mutombo Kangudia has been selected as a finalist.
The pageant is in its fourth year. Its main aim is to empower women with the knowledge to inspire and motivate other women and to bring sustainable change to the country. The breast cancer initiative, Pink Drive is the official NPO for the 2017 pageant.
Some background on Khutso
Khutso lived in Chrisville in 2012 after she married Tom Mutombo Kangudia. The mother to a three-year-old girl now lives in Glenvista.
“We have one daughter for now. She is three turning four in October and her name is Avisha, which means Gift from God in Hebrew,” said Khutso.
She was born and raised by her grandmother in Zebediela, Limpopo Province.
“My mother and my father were high school sweethearts and they were 20 years old when they had me. They later married separately and that is why I am a sister and role model to my four siblings – two by my mother and two by my father. This created in me a zeal to do all that I can do to ensure that I had children in wedlock, as I didn’t like the setup I grew up with, although I realised later in my life how it shaped my character positively,” said Khutso.
After she matriculated, the independent woman moved to Johannesburg to pursue her BBA degree with CIDA City Campus and lived with her father in Protea North Soweto.
“That is where I won the Miss Soweto title, in 2008. My husband, Tom Mutombo Kangudia, was born and raised in the DRC and we met in 2010 at Damelin, where I was working and he was studying. We happened to go the same church and dated for two years until we married and that was the beginning of the best years of our life together. He is a sales manager for Ephatha Group, which deals with immigration services, and together we are a dedicated family that serves the Lord. We go to House of Treasures Ministries, where I am a Sunday school teacher and youth co-leader, and that is where my passion lies,” she said.
Career life
Khutso has been working at the University of Johannesburg as a student marketer for three years now. She started working in education in 2009, at Damelin. She works closely with Grade Nine, 11 and 12 learners in career guidance. She always manages to fit in some life skills as well. She strongly believes in grooming the youth and instilling in them life lessons and sharing life experiences, so that they can lead fulfilling lives.
“I run Poise Academy as well. It is a Christian grooming and modelling academy for girls. We have classes every second Saturday at Rietvlei Zoo Farm. New classes will resume in May,” she explained. (See www.poiseacademy.co.za)
Khutso’s schooling life
Khutso began her schooling at Matshumu Primary School. She then moved to Subiaco Primary School when her mother got married. She later attended St Bede’s High until Grade 10 and completed her matric at Chita Kekana High. All the schools are in Limpopo.
She received a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at CIDA City Campus. She completed her degree in four years, specialising in marketing and HR.
“This was completely different from what I wanted to study, which was chemical engineering, but lack of funding and information was the reason I settled for the BBA,” she said. “I had to adapt from science and maths to business studies.
“That is one of the messages I pass on to learners I speak to now – that sometimes God channels us to where He wants us to be and all we need to do is to follow and learn throughout the journey.”
Entering Mrs Commonwealth
As the owner of a small business, Khutso had a lot of doors shut on her in her endeavours to grow the business.
“I saw the Mrs Commonwealth SA pageant as a title that could give me a louder voice in business,” she said.
“I attended the Teen pageant last year in support of a friend’s daughter and I was very impressed with their ethic. To be specific, they do not recommend that contestants wear swimsuits for the grand finale.
“I later discovered their Mrs pageant, which celebrates married women. I loved the fact that I wouldn’t have to wear a swimsuit to be part of this pageant.
“I find the swimsuit issue very troubling. Throughout my pageant life as a teen, I always wondered why one needs to be exposed in that manner to be chosen an ambassador – although I did it because I had to.”
She added that the pageant’s focus on charity and the goal of creating wealth for the community resonates with her.
“I couldn’t look for a more perfect platform to express my talents and give Poise Academy a bigger voice in the community than this one.
“Above all else, I am a beauty queen at heart. I started in pre-school and it has always been my favourite hobby.”
The grand finale will be taking place in October, when three international title holders will be crowned.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/MrsKhutsoRochell/, email info@poiseacademy.co.za or visit www.sacommonwealthpageants.co.za
For daily updates and news visit https://www.facebook.com/MrsCommonwealthSA/
Twitter: @SACWpageant
Contact: Mrs Commonwealth SA Finalist: Khutso – 082 522 3891, 082 812 1654
www.sacommonwealthpageants.co.za or email info@sacommonwealthpageants.co.za
Also Read:
Mulbarton’s own Miss Commonwealth finalist
Donations to UCPA from Mrs Commonwealth SA
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Alberton Record: 060 644 5264 Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
