Nine-year-old model to represent Zim in Dubai
WHEN nine-year-old Thandekile Langa Nxumalo entered her first modelling contest at the tender age of five, her parents thought it would be her first and only time.
However, four years on, the Grade four Masiyephambili Junior school pupil has seen her interest in modelling grow with every modelling contest she took part in and her passion seems to have paid off as she is set to represent Zimbabwe at a global modelling contest to be held in Dubai next month.
The defining moment of her budding career took place on 2 September when she represented Bulawayo at the Super Globe Zimbabwe and Junior Model International Zimbabwe pageant held at Bulawayo Theatre.
She won Super Globe Best Talent title while she also won the Ultimate Grand Title of Junior Model Zimbabwe, with a performance that wowed the crowd and the judges. She will now represent Zimbabwe in the Global showcase set to be held at the United Arab Emirates.
In an interview with Sunday Life, Thandekile’s mother, Thembisile Khumalo revealed how from a young age, the then tot loved to take pictures, striking interesting poses which eventually saw them entering her into her first modelling contest.
“We entered her in the Miss Open Eye contest at the age of five as a trial to see if she would make it.
She was home trained at that time to cultivate her talent which already seemed natural, and to our surprise she won the ultimate grand title of Miss Open Eye 2018. After winning, she was meant to be signed under the Open Eye Studio but that did not happen as we did not take it seriously, she would ask to enter pageants, but I would just brush it off as she was still very young then,” said Khumalo.
In July this year, the young girl’s mother revealed that they eventually gave her the greenlight to enter a modelling contest at her school, participating in the juniors category.
“We reluctantly allowed her to participate in the junior category at the Miss Masiyephambili modelling contest, which to our surprise she also won. One of the judges at the school pageant approached the school, head hunting the winners for different categories making them aware of the upcoming Junior Model International Pageant. Thandekile was interested in participating in this contest hence we decided to sign her under Fervid Model Management to help nurture her talent and prepare her for the upcoming competition,” she said.
Turning to preparations for the Dubai showcase, Khumalo revealed that Thandekile has since changed her schedule so as to be able to adapt and possibly bring the title home.
“She is doing her best to make both worlds work. She goes to school, after school goes to the studio for training then gets back home to focus on her schoolwork. I must commend Fervid Model Management who have worked with my daughter as they are making training adjustments to fit her school schedule.
“This is a road we’ve never walked before but we will try our best to guide her accordingly. Her education is a priority that cannot be compromised,” her mother assured.