MODELING THE RIGHT PATH FOR THE FUTURE

On Friday, the 8th of September 2023, Yozi GM Modelling Academy was crowning their Mr and Miss High Schools 2023. The event was held at Wild Coast Sun Amadiba Conference Hall. Yozi GM Modelling Academy was founded by Zizile Mthembu.

Her inspiration of starting the modeling pageant was to close the gap between the privileged and the unprivileged. She wanted to open an opportunity for everyone regardless of their background. As a young person who grew up in Bizana, a rural area, she wanted to give back to her hometown by opening an opportunity for everyone interested in modeling. 2023 was their 2nd year crowning Mr and Miss Bizana High Schools. The event host was none other than Thulani Luyanda Ndzotyana founder of Stride Institute (a pageant coaching and choreography).

She was also the 1st runner-up for Miss Grand South Africa 2023.

THE GUEST:

There were guests like Ayanda Thabethe, Miss Supernatural South Africa, Khadija Makhanya reigning Miss Mamelodi Sundowns, Miss Nande Mabala, Miss South Africa 2023 2nd Runner up. Miss KZN Queen 2024, Nkazimulo Tshabalala. Miss Teen Universe SA 2022, Theane Willemse. Brand Ambassador of  Miss Teen Universe South Africa, Bajabulisile Thela was also there. Mr Greenville S.S.S, Miss Phakama Ukhanye Kingdom HS, Miss Ngalonkulu S.S.S and Mr Bizana Village S.S.S as guests from the previous year.  A few schools from Bizana entered this modeling pageant:

• Ntabezulu Senior Secondary School
• Bizana Senior Secondary School
• AD Tshayingca
• Mdatya Senior Secondary School
• Nqabeni
• Ngalonkulu
• OR Thambo Tech Schools
• Marina
• Vulindela
• Gumzana Senior Secondary School
• Mamba Comprehensive High School
• Nomagqwathekana

The pride and joy of teachers and principals of these schools were definitely heard in their cheerleading, screams and clapping. They showed immense support seeing their student representing their school.

A student from junior schools entered the pageant. Zenande Sikunda won the Miss Junior Schools 2023. There were pre-teens from Redoubt, AmaNikhwe and Izikhuba. Limnandi Makhedama won Miss Pre-Teens.  It is after 6months of spending time apart in a boot camp, getting to know them, their behaviours, their values and morals, and teaching them about the importance of community outreach programs and responsibility. At the event, the students were to model down the runway and each round each school would be eliminated.

ELIMINATION

The models were eliminated up to the top 7 of Miss Bizana and Mr Bizana. The Top 7 Miss Bizana were: OR Thambo Tech School, KwaNikhwe, Bizana Senior Secondary School, Nqabeni, Majavu, AD Tshayinca, Mamba. Top 7 Mr Bizana were: Marina Secondary School, AD Tshayinca, Nomagqwathekana, KwaNikhwe, Vulindlela, Ngalonkulu, and Nqabeni. Each of these students from the top 7(Mr and Miss) had a community outreach campaign they had to do.

The top 7 Miss Bizana High Schools were as follows: a student from OR Thambo Technical School did a campaign on disability because they have family members who are living with disability. A student from KwaNikhwe did a community outreach campaign program by cooking after elderly people, cleaning after them, this is because they believe in a helping hand. Bizana Village Senior Secondary School did a campaign on planting crops in the garden because they are passionate about climate change. A student from Mzamba helped the ladies cooking in the kitchen from her school, because she understands that it is hard to focus in class on on empty stomach.

A student from Majavu decided to assisted her teachers at school by assisting other students struggling with maths. She wanted to make maths doable and accessible to all, because education is the key to success.  The Mr Bizana community outreach programs were as follows:

• A student from Marina S.S.S. decided to clean his local church because he believes the house of the Lord should be kept clean as it is a holy place. He also visited his local pre-school to share love and kindness to the small kids.
• A student from Nomagqwathekana donated clothes he doesn’t wear anymore.
• A student from Ngalonkulu S.S.S donated sanitary towels to girls, fixed his school windows.
• A student from Nqabeni cleaned his school library, he planted a vegetable garden for grandmothers. The candidates were asked questions that had the audience amazed by their answers. Their answers showed integrity, their morals, boldness and braveness. It showed the lessons they are taught by their parents and teachers. The questions that were asked were about human trafficking, social media usage, and corporal punishment.

Mr Vakele Dumela, one of the invited VIP guests from Department of Education under ESSS (Education, Schools Support System) was proud to be part of such initiative and event. As a person who works with schools to make sure students do well academically, he was proud to show support students doing well in other areas that involve them.

After the runway the whole show, it was evident that there is hope for this generation in the future. Mr Bizana High Schools 2023 was won by a student from Marina S.S.S. Miss Bizana High Schools 2023 was won by a student OR Tambo Tech School. A proud moment for parents, fellow learners, teachers, and school principals.