SANDF captain inspires women to follow their dreams

SANDF Captain, Muwaybah Amore Tolo from Potchefstroom has recently been selected as a Semi-Finalist for Mrs South Africa 2023 and needs the help of the community to progress in the competition.

The competition is aimed at female empowerment for married women in the country. In some cases those who participate are also mothers, entrepreneurs and overall home makers who are bold and want the best for their families and their community.

Born in a small town called Uitenhage, recently renamed Kariega, in the Eastern Cape, Amore says her love for modeling and fashion shows started in 1999 when she was just in grade 2. “I entered for the Miss Caritas pageant at my Pre-School but I was sadly not selected. My heart was broken,but I did not give up,” she recalls. She took a break from modelling for two years before walking on the ramp again.

“A part of me wanted to quit for good because I felt I was not as beautiful as the other girls. The kids at school used to make fun of my weight because I was scrawny with a long neck. But deep down, a part of me kept pushing to follow my dream,” she said. She participated in various local competitions, which helped build her confidence after all the bullying she had endured.

Since then, her goal was one day to become Miss World. “In 2010, I entered Miss Uitenhage and was selected as the first runner-up, which was a big achievement. My parents could not pay for my tuition fees, so this prize was extremely special to me,” she said.

The following year, the SANDF called her up as part of the 2011 intake. “I was overwhelmed and scared, but I was motivated because God had answered my prayers,” she said. Later, she married, became a mother and buried her head in her work. But even though she had distanced herself from this dream, she still watched all the Miss South Africa pageants and was always so sad when she realised it could have been her on stage.

“One day, I received a call from a close friend who informed me that there is a Mrs South Africa competition and that I should sign up,” Amore explained. “I laughed and told her she was crazy. At the time, I was out of shape and did not feel good about myself,” she explained.

Fast forward to January 2023, and Amore thought it might be worth trying. “I woke up and chose to fight back,” she said. She started working out and leading a healthy lifestyle. Before she knew it, she had entered the competition. Much to her surprise, she was selected as a semi-finalist.

“My goal is to create a sisterhood within the organisation for women to stand together as one unit and support each other through life’s difficulties and challenges. I believe we can learn from each other’s successes and failures and empower each other,” she said. “I believe entering this competition and being crowned the next Mrs South Africa will have a huge impact on the lives of women who do not believe it is possible.”

Being a mother of two boys, Amore added that through this platform, she also aims to establish a foundation that focuses on the mental health of young boys. “We need a platform that makes it comfortable for young men to express themselves without judgement,” she said.

To advance in the competition, Amore needs sponsorships and votes. So far, she has been unsuccessful in securing sponsors and asks for assistance. To vote for her, SMS “Amore Tolo” to 47587 or vote for free on the Mrs SA social media platforms. For more details on how to vote or be her sponsor, contact Amore at 066 224 0206.