Young beauty queen aims to keep crown in N Cape
11-YEAR-OLD city learner Kgakgamatso Nolene Jacobs aims to keep the Miss Pre-teen Universe South Africa crown safe at home in the Northern Cape.
Another young Kimberlite, Manqoba Vilakazi, was crowned Miss Pre-teen Universe SA 2023 and Kgakgamatso is gearing up to defend the crown for the Northern Cape at the 2024 event at the Isibaya Casino in Durban on March 22 to 24.
Kgakgamatso, a Grade 6 learner at Riva Academy of Learning, is excited about making it to the final of this year’s event.
The proud 11-year-old describes her journey to the final as “a beautiful experience”.
She points out that along her journey she learnt that modelling and pageantry are not just about beauty, but also an opportunity to empower young girls and to teach them the importance of taking care of others.
The energetic youngster is working around the clock on charity projects where she serves food and donates clothing to the less fortunate.
She recently served sandwiches and handed over clothes to vulnerable people in Greenpoint as part of her charity drive.
Kgakgamatso has also started a new “dignity” project where she donates toiletries to her peers in need at schools in the city.
The project is, however, currently experiencing challenges due to a lack of funds.
But Kgakgamatso is not giving up. She is used to working hard and doing things for herself.
She is not part of a modelling agency and does not even have a coach. The enterprising youngster makes use of various Youtube channels to help her prepare for competing in pageants.
And it has paid off. Kgakgamatso was crowned Miss Orel in 2021.
Her journey to the prestigious Miss Teen Universe SA pageant started after she heard about the Miss Pre-teen competition on a local radio station in March last year.
“After entering, I qualified during auditions at the Sun International Flamingo Casino and I became a semi-finalist.
“A few months later I qualified as a finalist at OR Tambo Hotel in Johannesburg in June 2023.
“Hopefully, I will do Kimberley and the Northern Cape proud at this year’s event and bring the crown back home,” said Kgakgamatso.