15-year-old Ladysmith Secondary School (Lasec) Grade 9 pupil Shamona Buthuram is making all the right strides as Miss Bollywood 2013/2014. Born and raised in Ladysmith, Shamona has been a Miss Bollywood devotee since the age of five. From her entrance onto the Miss Bollywood stage in 2005, Shamona has always been placed as queen, first princess or second princess. She is the embodiment of high standards, considering her performance in Miss Bollywood for almost 10 years.
She has attended contests across South Africa, including Durban and Johannesburg. Her passions include modelling and dancing, being invited to dance at several events in Ladysmith and surrounding areas. A keen dancer, Shamona is known as ‘Radha of the dance floor’ due to her love for the song of the same name that features on Karan Johar’s ‘Student of the Year’ film.
Shamona’s role models include Rani Mukerji, Aishwariya Rai Bachan and Priyanka Chopra due to their incredible acting and dancing skills. As the only daughter surrounded by four older brothers, Shamona brings a bright and friendly attitude to those around her. Shamona, a keen participant in charity work, stresses the importance of caring for others. “Love all; serve all” is a quote that Shamona uses to guide her daily practices. She nurtures strong values of peace, love, respect, right conduct and non-violence, and notes how her religion shows her right from wrong. “Being a Hindu, I am constantly reminded of my bigger purpose on earth and that is to help others in any way, even if it’s in a small way.” Her generous donation of teddy bears to the Ladysmith Gazette’s ‘Toys for Joy’ campaign speaks volumes of her concern for those less fortunate than her.
She has been involved in various other charities as well, including many fund-raisers and donations during winter campaigns (collecting blankets and clothes for the underprivileged). She says that her success relies mainly on her splendid support system in the form of her wonderful parents, who are always running around ensuring she is at her best. Both her parents have evidently played a massive role in moulding Shamona into the bright young lady she is. Although she is a Miss Bollywood fanatic, she stresses that, “Every woman is beautiful and special in her own way, and personality is what counts more.”
Miss Buthurum is certainly going places with aspirations of being the next Miss India South Africa and Miss South Africa. High ambitions and talent will get you to the top, and Shamona is certainly gliding along to the top as our very own Ladysmith representative.
