ODIFENTSE Lehasa (23) from Naturena is one of the finalists of Miss Commonwealth SA to be held at Summer Place in Boksburg on Thursday, November 24.
Miss Commonwealth South Africa runs and produces the Miss Commonwealth South Africa pageant annually. The nation-wide pageant runs over a seven-month period in search of the winners across South Africa. The pageant focuses on charity, empowering young South African women to become change agents in their communities and bring about sustainable development in the country.
It is a charity crown which creates a platform for the finalists as well as winners to be ambassadors of change, and thus further achieving their own goals, fulfilling their dreams within the pageant, entertainment and business industries. Odifentse is currently studying towards her master’s degree in information systems at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. She also holds two degrees from Rhodes University, for BCom undergraduate and BCom Honours degrees, both with distinctions in information systems.
“The reason why I entered the pageant is because I wanted to be involved in an initiative that would not only develop me as a young woman, but also to give me a platform which would allow me to make a real difference in the lives of South African children and youth, through empowerment and education.
“Thus far, I have been fortunate enough to organise a women’s empowerment event, educating women on empowering themselves through establishing a strong personal brand. I have also been involved in a project which provides computer literacy lessons to primary school children in marginalised communities over the last three years. I am currently working on starting a foundation which will focus on providing technology and social entrepreneurship skills to learners from marginalised communities,” she explained.
In the previous months the pageant has selected its finalists who will take part in a pageant boot camp in the days running up to the gala event on November 24.
The finalists were provided with a set of duties to fulfil in the build-up to the finale. Duties included raising funds for the pageant and a charity organisation, getting media exposure and partaking
in various initiatives to add value in their communities, all under the banner of Miss Commonwealth South Africa.
Source: http://southerncourier.co.za/111129/miss-commonwealth-sa-finalist-has-big-dreams/