Self-love and self-acceptance are key foundations for Mrs SA finalist
Mrs SA TOP 100 finalist, Mankoana Nhlebela (32) is a woman with many aspirations.
POLOKWANE – “I grew up like any little girl with great hopes and dreams and always put in tremendous effort to get closer to those dreams,” she said.
Mankoana grew up in Polokwane but resides in Johannesburg. She is married with two children, a son and a daughter.
“I work in the telecommunications industry as a senior manager specialising in business risk management. I am also the owner of Ukara (An ancient fabric in Nigeria which also means creativity artist expression), an online fashion store that provides simplistic, elegant and versatile ready-to-wear apparel for women,” she said.
Mankoana says the brand was birthed from her passion for fashion, but more importantly, a keen interest in contributing to the sustainable advancement of the South African fashion landscape, into one that is predominantly characterised by local designs and production.
She saw the Mrs South Africa platform as an opportunity to inspire women to live out their best lives and make use of every opportunity to embrace others in their endeavours and challenges, to remind them that as wives or mothers they still have dreams to pursue and should never stop dreaming.
“I strongly believe that when women work together they can make a tremendous impact in our society.”
The Mrs SA is not a typical beauty pageant. It offers married South African women, who have real-life careers, families, and hobbies the chance to compete for the prestigious title. Glamour and sophistication are part of the criteria, but the women who enter and win, all have relatable stories that can inspire others.
The pageant is about giving South Africa’s unsung superwomen a chance to get support and give input, and a platform to reach a new level of success and visibility on a global stage. The 100 semi-finalists will compete at the semi-final, held at Emperors Palace from 26 to 28 April.
“It’s a great privilege and honour to have been selected as a semi-finalist. This year the pageant received the most entries in the history of Mrs SA, and knowing the calibre of women in our country, I count it a privilege to have been selected. Only 25 women will be selected as finalists for Mrs SA.”
Mankoana says women must always strive to be themselves and not compare themselves with the next woman because only you can do your best, we have all been created uniquely for a purpose.
“Self-love and self-acceptance are the key foundations to acknowledging that you are worthy and that you should never settle for anything but the best,” she said.
She believes in peace of mind, acknowledges that one can never be perfect but should always commit to becoming the best version of yourself. Mankoana enjoys leisure travel with her family.
