eMalahleni – The Face of Emalahleni beauty pageant is commemorating its 10th anniversary this year, marking a decade of youth empowerment, community upliftment, and aspirations transformed into reality.
Established in 2015 by local resident Sibongile Mabona, the pageant has evolved from a modest event into a significant platform for young individuals in Emalahleni.
Sibongile Mabona’s modeling passion led her to Roodepoort every Saturday for classes and auditions. Facing resource constraints, she launched the Face of Emalahleni pageant. The local community, corporations, and institutions warmly embraced the endeavor. Prominent advocates included Lindiwe Phakathi and Lindiwe Mtsweni of Vitrovian. The Ridge Casino sponsored 100% of event expenditures, with additional support from sponsors like Newscafe.
Initially featuring solely the Miss Face of Emalahleni category, Mabona progressively expanded the competition to encompass Miss Teen and Mr. Emalahleni in 2018. By 2022, supplementary categories like Little Miss, Pre-Teen, and Ms. Emalahleni were introduced, rendering the event more inclusive and affording more young individuals the opportunity to shine.
As the pageant commemorates its 10th anniversary, Mabona extends an invitation to additional sponsors and community members to partake in this milestone celebration slated for October 19 at The Ridge Casino. This year’s event guarantees to be grander and more enriching with an array of activities and prospects for contestants.
Nonetheless, the Face of Emalahleni transcends the realm of a mere beauty pageant. It serves as a platform for enhancing the welfare of Emalahleni residents, particularly those in necessitous circumstances.
Throughout the years, the pageant has been engaged in diverse charitable endeavors, encompassing the provision of sanitary products, sustenance, and apparel to the less fortunate.
Moreover, the pageant has placed emphasis on youth development and empowerment by awarding scholarships to winners to pursue further studies.
Among remarkable success stories stemming from the pageant is Ayanda Masuku, a former contender who established the Pink Touch Foundation, which mentors young girls in the community.
Other participants have gone on to establish their own modeling agencies and beauty pageants, owing to the expertise and knowledge they acquired through their involvement in the Face of Emalahleni.
The pageant’s initiatives extend beyond the stage, with contenders routinely visiting retirement homes, orphanages, and engaging in feeding programs.
They also distribute sanitary pads to young girls and women in need, guaranteeing that their influence reverberates throughout the community.
Looking ahead, Mabona harbors lofty aspirations for the Face of Emalahleni. “In the ensuing decade, I envision the pageant burgeoning to rival Miss South Africa. I aspire to witness a greater number of graduates emerging from this pageant, and I am on the cusp of launching a cosmetics brand, which is nearing fruition,” she divulged.
Nonetheless, Mabona faces challenges balancing work, studies, and motherhood.
Priority is fostering a strong team for Face of Emalahleni.
The Face of Emalahleni’s 10-year milestone showcases power of dreams, community support. With continued backing, pageant will flourish, impacting more lives.
