BCom Accounting student Makhanani Chabalala (21) was crowned Miss Soweto at Soweto Theatre in Jabulani last Saturday.
The energetic twenty one year old could not contain her happiness when her name was called out as Miss Soweto 2013.
It was a glamorous evening as twenty Miss Soweto finalists strutted their stuff in hopes of been the next Miss Soweto.
Chabalala who hails from Chiawelo said that it does not feel real that she is Miss Soweto 2013.
“I am so excited I can’t believe that I am going to carry the same torch as the likes of Basetsana Makgalemele,” she said.
Chabalala said that when she entered Miss Soweto her biggest fear was winning the pageant.
“I had this fear I thought to myself what is it that I would do to make a difference in my community if I actually won Miss Soweto,” she said.
Chabalala said after doing some introspection she realised that her passion is reading and that she would like to encourage reading to the youth in her community.
“I want to banish the saying that says “if you want to hide something from a black person put it in a book,”. I want to encourage the youth to read as reading opens up your world to a brand new world,” said Chabalala.
This year marked the 35th annual Miss Soweto since its inception in 1979. Some of the former Miss Soweto winners such as Basetsana Makgalemele and Augustine Masilela were also there to share in the celebrations.
After thirty five years of making Miss Soweto what it is today, the founder and organiser of Miss Soweto Leonard Sithole (64) handed his responsibilities to son Collin Sithole.
“I now entrust my son to carry on the legacy of Miss Soweto. I trust that he will take my vision and make it to be bigger and better,” said Sithole.
Collin said that it is a big responsibility that his father has entrusted on him but he will do all that he can to make sure that he upholds the standard that Miss Soweto has had throughout the years.
“I plan to make Miss Soweto big and better, I urge local businesses to come on board and sponsor Miss Soweto,” said Sithole.
