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WSU Information Technology student, Hlumela Bekentla was crowned Miss OR Tambo 2019, in Mthatha recently.
She shared her journey to victory and said that since the OR Tambo did not hold auditions this year, she had to go through an interview process and was later selected to be the finalist.
Hlumela said the victory has not sunk in yet, however, she is ready to carry out the humanitarian activities that come with the crown.
“It still feels like a dream, I can’t believe that I am Miss OR Tambo. I am ready for every task; serving the people stabilises emotional health,” she said.
Hlumela denoted that modelling is not only about the walking on the stage, rather about displaying a positive personality.
“The pageant taught me to work on myself, I try to be a better version of myself and inspire the people around me to be better. I don’t fuss about being perfect, in fact I want to break the stigma that models should be of a certain height or size; to me modelling should be about personality,” she said.
The OR Tambo beauty queen added that she wants to reach out to youngsters from remote areas and produce well-known brand ambassadors.
“Since there are few or no modelling schools in the Eastern Cape, I would like to groom young models from rural disadvantaged areas for pageants and promotions. I believe being a brand ambassador of an environment evokes positive attitude not just to an individual but to everyone around that person,” she added.
Hlumela is no stranger to the crown as she previously won: Miss Peer Education in 2011, Miss Face of Mzansi 2018 (Community), Miss East London 2018, Miss KSD 2019 and Miss OR Tambo 2019/20.
Another WSU student who made the institution proud is Yongama Cebe, a Medical Orthotics Prosthetics student, who has been crowned Mr Berlin November 2019.
Berlin November is well-known South Africa’s premier traditional horse racing event that is yearly staged in November.
By Mawande Mute (intern)
