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At just 22 years, Usiphile Sambane has become the pride of Lunda village in Ward 10, carrying the hopes of Matatiele as she prepares for the Miss Summer Eastern Cape 2025 finals on 6 December 2025. Her story is not just about beauty, but about resilience, community, and a vision for change.
Their Story
Born and raised in Lunda, Usiphile has always been passionate about representing her community. Making it to the finals of Miss Summer EC has put her in the spotlight, and with it comes both excitement and challenges. She has openly shared the pressures of competing in such a platform, from struggling with community votes to balancing expectations — yet she remains determined to persevere.
“I’m truly grateful for the support so far. I know the journey is not easy, but I’m asking Matatiele to walk with me until the end,” Usiphile said.
The Event/Occasion
On 22 September 2025, Usiphile met with Mayor Patrick Stuurman to discuss support for her pageant journey. The Mayor praised her achievement, describing her as a role model for young women across the municipality
Mayor Stuurman, encouraged her that the municipality is ready to give her all the support she needs in this beautiful journey.
Beyond the crown, Usiphile has pledged to use her platform to strengthen community development projects, showing that her ambitions reach far beyond the pageant stage.
Community Reactions
Local residents have begun rallying around her, offering words of encouragement and pledging votes on the official Miss Summer EC Facebook page. Community members have also been invited to make financial contributions to help ease her journey.
The campaign to crown her as Miss Summer Eastern Cape Ambassador continues, with Usiphile reminding her community that every vote and contribution counts toward bringing the title home.
