POLOKWANE – THE Face of Savannah Mall 2012, Lerato Mopedi (27) from Moletjie, says she wants to empower young women by making them see their beauty and worth through pageants.
Mopedi is the founder of Purple Heels Entertainment Company, which hosted a beauty pageant at the Library Gardens auditorium on Saturday. The pageant consisted of three categories; Miss Purple Heels Entertainment Junior and -Senior, and Moletjie Beauty Queen.
Mopedi said the contestants were between the ages of six and 25 years, and she wanted to give them a platform to show their talent and encourage women who wished to pursue modelling as career.
She said it was more than just a pageant because there was so much she wanted to teach the contestants.
“I know we have a good influence on young women.
“It keeps them off the streets, they commit to their studies and, most importantly, we educate them about the dangers drug abuse.
“They also need to know that a positive attitude is also important because confidence will give them the power to pursue their dreams,” she said.
She further said she previously hosted three pageants in Moletjie but this one was the biggest by far. She said she knew and understood the challenges of being a model in a rural area.
“These include not having enough money to buy the right clothes or the right hairstyle, and that is why we have given the winners special prizes and not only a title,” she explained.
This year’s prizes included beauty hampers, photo shoots, modelling contacts with Purple Heels Entertainment and, the big prize, a scholarship from iCollege worth R23 000.
The winner of Miss Purple Heels Entertainment Senior was Grace Mphago Senior (18).
Tshegofatso Poopedi (11) was crowned Miss Purple Heels Entertainment Junior. The Moletjie Beauty Queen winner was Mosima Selemela (20).
Selemela said she was grateful for the bursary.
“I am studying towards a national higher certificate in accountancy at the Tshwane University of Technology.
“The bursary will help to pay my fees. I will work hard so that I will pass and be an inspiration to others,” she said.
