The prestigious Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa pageant sees women from all over the country competing for the highly coveted title.
Picture: SUPPLIED
One of the contestants is Gonubie resident Zikhona Ngxata, 33, who recently made it into the pageant’s semi-finals.
In addition to working as a sales executive for Ronnies Motors, Ngxata is also the founder of Miss Eastern Cape Beauty With A Purpose.
“I am all about youth development and woman empowerment, so Mrs SA speaks to everything I represent,” she said.
Ngxata started Miss Eastern Cape Beauty With A Purpose seven years ago, with the goal of empowering young girls from previously disadvantaged communities.
“Through this initiative, we managed to mobilise bursaries and have helped five ladies in the past five years, including the latest winner,” said Ngxata.
“Being a Mrs South Africa is being a leader and a community builder.
“Mrs SA does a lot of community projections through their sister programme, Woman 4 Woman.
“For example, Miss Eastern Cape Beauty With A Purpose, of which I am the CEO and chairperson, has partnered with Futurelife to deliver breakfast packs, masks and soap to needy schools,” she said.
Ngxata has also been involved in the struggle against gender-based violence (GBV).
As previously reported by the GO! & Express (‘Taking a stand against GBV’, December 12 2019), Ngxata helped organise a march against GBV last year as part of the annual 16 Days of Activism Campaign.
“We want to educate men on the struggle of women after the act [of GBV], which leaves an emotional scar.
“We need men to be good role models for growing boys and to help change the status quo,” Ngxata said at the time.
The march started at Trinity Methodist Church and finished outside the EL City Hall, where a memorandum was handed over to EL SAPS acting visible policing head Lt-Col Zimisele Nxafani.
Voting is open for Mrs SA and can be done in one of two ways.
Members of the public can visit the Mrs SA Facebook page and like the picture of your favourite candidate.
Alternatively, SMS your candidate’s name to 35959.
For more information about the pageant, visit the website.
