Buhle Mahlaba took part in the 2022 Ekasi pageants Miss Ekasi, which is aimed at igniting and teaching authenticity to all young people in different parts of the country by the Lerato Nogabe Foundation. Out of 10 other finalists, she took the crown home (Embalenhle) which means she stood as a consistently authentic contestant in the whole journey of the competition.

 

Buhle is a young 23-year old woman born and bred in Embalenhle, in the Mpumalanga province under the Govan Mbeki Municipality. She was raised by her late grandmother and her father; she never really knew her mother. She grew up a happy daddy’s little girl. She has had her superman all her life who did all he could to to ensure that she is happy and safe at all times. Even after being unfairly dismissed, he made sure she was okay and kept that beautiful smile on her face.

“I entered Miss Ekasi 2022 because I was at a point in my life where i was just trying out anything that comes my way; nothing was working out for me, so this was an opportunity for me to change that narrative about my life. The platform came as a way in which I can push myself into my fullest potential with regards to my interest in the media industry. It’s safe to say I’m already reaching that goal” says the newly crowned Miss Ekasi 2022 Buhle Mahlaba.

Winning Miss Ekasi for Buhle means that she now has the opportunity to reach all the goals she has set for herself and on top of that she will be proof that even after failing more than once in making one’s dream come true, if one sets their mind to something, they can achieve it. It is all possible, as long as you believe it!

“Lerato Nogabe inspired me to go down this route because I saw how she grew as a brand, and as a person after winning the first annual Miss Teen Ekasi in 2016. I believe with hard work, consistency and dedication I can achieve the same and more”

The Lerato Nogabe Foundation has changed the whole narrative of pageantry as a whole because they believe that authenticity is more than just choosing to be natural or not, it is a series of decisions where you choose to be yourself even if the whole world is against you while you make those decisions.

With every competition, there are always challenges. For Buhle, her challenge was the question and answers series because she always thought that she was misunderstood, or that there was someone who was more smart-thinking than she was. Eventually she understood the true meaning of authenticity, and she then came to terms that different individuals think differently, so she chose to remain herself throughout, and it worked in her favor.

From here going forward, her aim is to take over whatever field she finds herself in. She believes in growth, and she wants to see herself in the Miss Mpumalanga pageant as it will have a positive impact on her modelling career. You can find her on all social media platforms as Buhlebendalo Thalia to see more of what she does.