Outgoing Sundowns queen reflects on difficult year
OUTGOING Miss Sundowns Kadija Makhanya has opened up about reigning at a time when the country was on hard lockdown.
The country went into lockdown just two weeks after she had taken the crown at a glittering ceremony last year.
“There I was, enjoying my reign and thinking and planning all the initiatives we wanted to conduct during the year and, then, boom, lockdown level 5 happened,” she said.
“I must admit, just like everyone else we were caught off guard and had to search for answers and alternative ways to carry out the duties that lay ahead.”
She said it had been a different reign as Miss Sundowns was a very hands-on role.
“However, I had to learn to carry on, and our voices were amplified in the virtual space. I felt defeated at first but soon learnt the importance of being resilient.”
Makhanya said travel was a huge part of the job, and she missed human interaction. However, as the lockdown continued, she realised her message didn’t die, and travel did not necessarily make one a good ambassador.
“I ended up going to so many communities virtually,” she said.
One of her highlights was being the host of an online round-table discussion to be streamed live on the Tshwane University of Technology Facebook page about diversity, tolerance and inclusion.
Another highlight was engaging with the not-so well-known Mamelodi Sundowns woman’s side and providing soccer boots to disadvantaged communities.
“It was more than just the soccer boots. It was allowing someone a shot at their dream.”
She said her most important takeaway was ubuntu and helping communities. She recalled how the Motsepe Foundation genuinely cared about assisting others, and how some initiatives were not in the media for people to see.
“There was a lot of genuine, selfless work done behind the scenes which, for me, showed that it was not all for the camera.”
From Umlazi, the 24-year-old civil engineering student said her goal was to specialise in construction management and contribute to infrastructure development in South Africa and Africa. Her message was: “We live in a time where individuality is celebrated. Now is the time for women to embrace their strengths and uniqueness. We can do anything we want and be anything we wish to be. Despite the limited opportunities we’ve been given, we have proved our worth in society. Let us continue to stand up, be brave and courageous and assert ourselves in our purpose to create a better future for us as women.”
Entries for Miss Sundowns 2021 opened yesterday. Interested people are encouraged to visit the Mamelodi Sundowns social media pages and website.