Miss Commonwealth SA finalist wants to leave a legacy
There is much more to Miss Commonwealth SA finalist, Mufunwa Khavhela, than what meets the eye.
LIMPOPO – The 21-year-old beauty from Thohoyandou says she feels as if she has found her purpose in life along with her accomplishment of being a finalist in the Miss Commonwealth SA pageant.
Do not be fooled by her beauty, this talented young woman has the brains to back up her looks and is a third-year Bachelor of business administration degree student at Rosebank College.
She credits her strong spirituality and personality as the two most important factors which have kept her going through the ups and downs of the modelling industry, qualities that are easily noticeable when you talk with her.
“I have always wanted to be a model. It was one of my biggest dreams while growing up, unfortunately getting a break in the modelling industry turned out to be more difficult than I thought. My height was holding me back as I received several rejections solely based on that. This led to me only starting to model professionally last year, mainly working as a freelance model. Being a finalist in the Miss Commonwealth SA pageant is a huge stepping stone for me in launching my career as a model and I am immensely grateful at the opportunity,” she says.
She explains a fear of being ordinary and leaving this world without having achieved her goals are what motivates her. “I want to be a person of influence and leave a legacy that the next generation can be motivated by. Growing up, I have always admired Tyra Banks. The passion she has for modelling and the hard work she put into it gave a whole new definition to modelling. Unlike other models, she knew who she was and worked at excelling her craft. Her ambition and drive inspired me and made me fall in love with modelling,” she explains.
She started modelling at the age of three to entertain relatives at family gatherings. “From there I entered a pageant in Gr 1 for which I won the first princess title. I haven’t really been modelling since until my recent break into the modelling industry. My height has always been one of my biggest challenges, with agencies telling me that I have great work but would not sign me just because I am short. This had a negative impact in my emotional state of mind and at times I would pray for height just so I could pursue my dream. It was only after I had accepted myself and the body I have that I started having big breaks in the industry. When I think about my family and the level of support they give me, I always find myself in tears. I thank God every single day for the family I have. They believe in my dreams and constantly push me to become the best I can be regardless of how many times I’ve failed before. My parents and siblings are my source of strength, their prayers and encouragements keep me going.”
Being a model for her is more than just taking pictures and looking good for the camera, it’s about conveying a message.
“When you are a model, you are an ambassador meaning whatever brand you work with is totally dependent on you. My biggest goal is to live a life that influences other people and make them want to work even harder than I did. I wish to see people succeed due to my inspiration. It is really important for you to know who you are and exactly what it is you want in life. Accept the things you cannot change about yourself and always work at being better than you were yesterday. The only person you should be in competition with is yourself. Always work hard and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. It is important that you remain an original, no one wants to work with duplicates so stick to your lane,” she adds.
She says she plans interviews, shoots and motivational sessions well in advance so they don’t clash with her studies or modelling.
“Having a supportive family helps me keep a good balance because I sometimes delegate some of the tasks to them, I am never alone. Two hands are better than one,” she concludes.
