POLOKWANE -Litha began competing in pageants and modelling to help her with a speech problem and to overcome shyness.
“We only used the modelling and pageants as a tool to help her with her shyness and help her grow as a person” said her mother, Lumka.
However, it became quite clear that Litha had talent as she soon began winning various titles.
“I have won about 25 titles but one of the ones I am the most proud of is my Queen World title where I represented South Africa in Bulgaria,” she said.
She said despite her many titles, she only started winning two years after she began competing. “I would say 2013 was my breakthrough year when I won my first title, Miss Pre-Teen.”
Many of the pageants involve various charity projects that she participates in.
She is currently busy with a project collecting school shoes for underprivileged learners.
“We collected about 275 pairs of school shoes last year, and already 82 pairs this year,” she said proudly.
A future project she is looking into includes a library which she would like to build in Ga-Mamabolo.
Litha said she enjoys pageants as she is able to see the world, meet new people and help the underprivileged through her charity projects.
“Even though I enjoy it a lot, it can be tough at times, competition can be stiff which also makes some girls very mean, but I usually just focus on my own thing and hope for the best.”
When she is not competing in pageants she enjoys practising karate. She holds a Blue Plus belt in the sport discipline.
Her dream is to one day compete in the Miss SA pageant and from there she would like to compete in the biggest competition of them all, Miss Universe.
She looks up to American fashion model Gigi Hadid, who is ranked among the top 50 models.
“It scares me at times how well Litha is doing, even in defeat she learns to accept rejection and keeps her head up.
“We are really proud of her because of that,” said her mother.
Litha said she is grateful for the competitions she has competed in, because it taught her to never give up and it also helped her to grow into a responsible person.
