Ayanda Gugulethu Thabethe

"My family are the first people who played a role in shaping my mind and their importance in my life cannot be emphasised enough. With them beside me, I know that everything will be okay and I know that I have purpose"

"I want to branch into the research sector so I can play a role in developing nutrition related guidelines to combat South Africa’s double burden of malnutrition and obesity"

"I am lucky enough to be on a platform that allows me to provide community education on the importance of a healthy life through a healthy diet. I have also recently started a campaign called #nyakazani which aims to get community members involved in responding to crises"

"I have always pictured myself as a role model for young women. Growing up I read about female trailblazers and always thought of myself as one too. I entered the competition because I am a driven woman who wants to make changes for the better of our country"

"I think it’s how we show love. My love language is showering people with gifts. I also reciprocate feelings when someone shows me love"

"beauty queens are the subject of harsh criticism and booing"

"It’s like a boot camp for women. It allows me to grow. About the bullying, you can choose to lock out the negativity and focus on the good things"

"From an early age, I had a seed planted inside of me, which I have been watering over the years, and seeing my dreams realised has been nothing short of amazing! Especially when this experience has far surpassed my expectations"

"I love a good challenge, and pageantry is exactly that; I get to be involved in community projects, take the lead on various campaigns, and find out more about myself and my own capabilities. Essentially, I get to step into my power. From afar, pageantry seemed like glitz and glam, which initially is what drew me to the industry; however, the closer I got, the more appreciation I had for this world, and I have not been able to turn back since"

"The issue that is most aligned with me is our flawed healthcare system. It is no secret that a lot of attention has been directed towards the Department of Health since the beginning of 2020 due to COVID-19; however, all that attention was only focused on the new pandemic on-hand. As a result, other sectors started to lag, leaving our country in shambles! I want to tackle finding interventions that will improve and strengthen health system resilience and financing through local, national, and global engagement. After all, a healthy society is a thriving one"

"As someone who is considered to be a part of the youth, I believe that I can speak for the majority of my generation when I say that the biggest lesson that can be learnt from 1976 is that: change is inevitable if you are willing to actively play your part towards seeking it. The students who marched bravely in 1976 knew what they wanted, and they took the necessary measures needed, drastic as they were, to see it through. We need to learn to have that resilience today as well! There are so many social injustices that need to be faced head-on. If we can learn to gather our strength and put on brave faces, we, too, can lead our own revolutions"

"After all, what you wear should be a reflection of who you are and how to keep yourself updated with the world’s and South Africa’s current affairs. I have been putting all of this into practice by actively searching for self-awareness; reading up on current affairs; thinking of possible questions, which I then answer myself; using social media as a tool to get my message across; using any free time I have to work with my community to find gaps that can be filled"