Miss SA: West Rand’s Sasha-Lee on why she should win
At just 23 years old she has got the brains, the look and the heart.
Sasha-Lee Taylor from Helderkruin will be one of the few, if not the only one to fly the West Rand flag high at this year’s Miss South Africa competition.
At just 23 years old she holds a B degree in Social Sciences, having majored in Marketing and Psychology; she is an author of children’s educational books; a philanthropist; a model; and director of ACE Models West Rand.
She also has the heart, having been involved in charity work in Randfontein and Krugersdorp.For Sasha-Lee it’s not all about the title, crown and all the glory that go with it, but about her country.
“This is incredibly exciting for me. I have always believed Miss South Africa is more than a title; it is a leadership responsibility. I know I can contribute selflessly towards this role by becoming the most valuable voice for the youth of South Africa, and empowering our youth through education and literacy. My aim is to utilise my educational children’s book: Learn to Read, Learn to Lead to create a literate nation.
“I have always had a passion for education and giving back. I find it so important for everyone to have access to equal education opportunities. However, I noticed that many children, even young adults, are illiterate and that is how the idea for Learn to Read, Learn to Lead was born.
The name represents young children of today becoming leaders of the future. This project is a way of connecting my passion for giving back with education, which I plan to implement in my Miss South Africa journey.”
In addition, she wants to show everyone there?s a lot more to pageantry than just walking in a pretty dress.
“It’s about making a difference, building confidence and learning vital skills that can be used in everyday life,” she said.
She’s also not new to pageants either, having been crowned Miss Teen Universe before. She was only 12 years old when she won the Miss Junior SA 2012 title.
“It has never been about the titles. Pageantry opened my eyes to how it could build someone’s self-esteem and confidence. It also showed me that there?s more to a title, such a working with your community and giving back.”
Asked why she should be Miss South Africa 2020, she replied, “I believe I should be Miss South Africa 2020 as I always afford 100 per cent effort to every task and challenge I am faced with. I will dedicate my time and full effort to becoming the best in my professional capacity, as well as becoming the most valuable voice for the youth in South Africa.
I believe I could contribute selflessly towards the role of Miss South Africa and take on the duty of serving South Africa with dignity, grace and pride.”
WATCH HER ENTRY VIDEO FOR MISS SA HERE
Quick-fire questions:
What have you been up to during lockdown
“The lockdown was a blessing in disguise as it allowed me to focus on my charity work and help those who ultimately couldn’t help themselves. It afforded me the time and opportunity to arrange multiple charity drives through which I was able to donate hampers and food parcels to those less fortunate. It is in times like these that we learn to really count our blessings and extend a helping hand where possible. This lockdown also allowed me to reinvent my business of ACE Models West Rand – I can now offer online classes and make use of the virtual curriculum.”
What do you do in your spare time
“What is that? Ha ha. Travel is something I really love to do … in 2018 I was afforded the opportunity to present my educational children’s book to the Educational Department in Bulgaria. Cape Town is also one of my favourite places to travel to; there is just something about the wind, sea and sand. At the moment I am focusing on completing my second book, which I am very excited about launching hopefully later this year. The second book tackles a more personal issue, which I believe needs to be addressed more in-depth ? bullying. It also teaches children about numbers and how to count, building on my first book which teaches children to read. I believe bullying needs to be brought to light, and through education we can help those learners not only to overcome these hardships, but also potentially stop the act of bullying in its entirety. These books do not only have educational value, but 25 per cent of the net profit from the book sales goes to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Tshwane Child Welfare Fund. I joined forces with them because of their continuous efforts to uplift and empower the youth. The remaining profits go towards setting up mini libraries in areas that lack facilities.”
What is your message to young girls and young women in South Africa
“Your history is not your destiny – your past does not define your future! Each day you are given a brand-new opportunity to create the future you not only want, but also the one you deserve. Each and every one of you is unique in your own special way, and it is about finding your own distinctive purpose and nurturing it, allowing it to blossom. Strength comes from within, and it lies within all of us. Your voice is powerful and can be used to change not only your own destiny, but that of the world too.”
What is your comment about domestic violence being a big issue in the country
“This is a serious issue that should be addressed, which is why we need to encourage women to find their voices and speak out against domestic violence. If we stand together, we can empower each other to speak up about what?s wrong. Once again this comes down to my campaign of wanting to educate our youth and instil trust in them, allowing them to understand that speaking out is not a crime, but ultimately something that could save their lives. We need to create a safer platform for our women and children to confide in and seek help, but also most importantly, we as a country need to tackle the issue of educating the actual perpetrators on why their acts are criminal and hurtful.”
What is beauty, according to you
“Beauty is just a word, defined differently by each and every one of us. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, all colours, all shades, all personality traits and all languages. What beauty is to me, is not what beauty is to another person. We are all beautiful in our own right. Sadly, the world is so distorted by ego, fame and social media that we tend to forget that beauty goes beyond looks and social-media followers. What really makes a person beautiful is their heart and how they treat others.”
Who are your role models
“The most important role model in my life is my younger sister. She’s a true example of a resilient woman – no matter what she’s faced with or challenges she goes through, she always picks herself up and pushes on.”
