Little Miss World makes SA proud

PRETORIA: Pageant girl and philanthropist Reabetswe Mmekwa, 11, of Pretoria, has clinched the Little Miss World title in Greece.

Reabetswe, who lives with her mother in Menlyn, 
travelled to the south-eastern European country to take part in the week-long events leading up to her crowning glory on Friday.

“I feel very proud of myself that I made South Africa proud,” Reabetswe said. “I'm so excited and I'm thankful for the support everyone gave me.”

The Little Miss World website said the pageant's award ceremony commemorates ancient Olympic traditions.

Those taking part appeared before the judges in tunics with gold and silver ornaments, and received gold and silver laurel crowns.

During her previous interview with Cape Times sister paper the Pretoria News before heading to Greece, Reabetswe had said she was excited and knew she was going to win the contest. The article was part of the submissions to motivate why she should be crowned.

Her mentor, George Senosha, said the judges had been very impressed with the confidence she had shown in the article and how she predicted she would win.

Last year, Reabetswe was first princess in her school pageant. And in March she entered the Mini Miss Earth pageant and was crowned first princess.

She followed that up with the Little Miss Continent crown, where she was named the queen, which allowed her to represent South Africa in Little Miss World.

Reabetswe said she would use the pageant as a platform to further the work she was doing with her organisation, Ditsala Children’s Shield and Projects. The project focuses on young girls and elderly women, with the aim of restoring their dignity.

Among her initiatives was praying for Nelson Mandela when he was in hospital in 2013.

Reabetswe also raised R95 000 for upgrades at her school in Soshanguve and has prayed against xenophobia when there was an outbreak of violence last year.