Miss Mpumalanga 2023, Bokamoso Machika, says her life changed immediately after she had been crowned the queen. She said the journey has been exciting, yet it encouraged her to think differently.
According to her, the moment she was crowned, she knew she had a lot of responsibilities that were more than her personal aspirations.
“I had a responsibility to the communities that I go to. From the moment I got the title, I knew my journey would be different. The vision that I carried – I did not know when and how I would implement it. Some days it was hard and sometimes I felt overwhelmed. One thing that the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator made sure of was that we went to communities where they truly needed our help and an impact was made.”
ALSO READ: Hazyview artist drops new song with renowned musician, MarazA
Machika said she started a project called the Tswelopele Programme with the aim of making an impact and teaching young people about the dangers of drug abuse.
“Among the questions that I was asked was, ‘If I were to carry the crown, what will I do in my community?’ I come from KwaMhlanga, a hotspot of drug addiction. When I started this initiative, I knew what I wanted. I know drug addiction is not something that is common, especially within the black communities, but it sums up things that some young people are going through. This is why my initiative is about going to schools and speaking to learners about mental health. This is because some of the issues that lead to drug addiction are mental ones,” she explained.
She said as her Miss Mpumalanga journey comes to an end soon, she wants to continue with her studies.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga stalwart reacts to being elected to the board of SA Tourism
“I want to complete my LLB degree. I feel that after I have my degree, there is a lot that I can accomplish through my vision and projects. It is better to speak from an informed place than speculate,” said Mochika.
Her message to the next queen is that she should make the most of it. “It is only a year. Once you are out you will never have another opportunity. Make contacts, get to know people and make sure that you make an impact,” said Mochika.
This year’s Crowning Miss Mpumalanga will take place on Saturday March 16 at the Communio Church in Mbombela. This show, just like all the previous ones, promises to be nothing but a great spectacle.
-
-
-
-
