Shudufhadzo Musida HaMasia from Limpopo is a Miss SA top 15 semi-finalist entered Miss SA after realizing that Miss SA’s vision is to empower South African women, was in line with her own vision.
” It feels as if just by being in the competition, I am working towards my dreams regardless. They [Miss SA] are very big on empowerment. They are very big on one facing their power and embracing themselves and their future. So, by just being a contestant, I am basically facing my future every single day in terms of the work that I do with the charity and my social cause of educational and economic empowerment,” she said.
Musida completed her degree in social sciences in philosophy, politics and economics from the University of Pretoria (UP) and she is currently pursuing a BA Honours in international relations at the University of Witwatersrand.
To showcase her advocacy towards empowering women and children, Musida has donated food parcels, sanitary towels and blankets to Takalani Children’s Home in Venda, Iris House Child Youth Care Centre in Giyani and Bohlale Multipurpose Drop-in Centre in Mankweng, all in Limpopo.
“I stand for economic and educational empowerment. In the rural or disadvantaged areas, there are girls who do not go to school for like seven days because they are on their periods and cannot afford sanitary towels. Sometimes they miss tests and exams,” she said.
“Food and security is also important because a hungry child cannot concentrate the same way as a child who has food. The point in donating food parcels, sanitary towels and blankets is because I wanted to focus on the underlying issues that impede the educational empowerment and success of girls,” she added.
Musida, from HaMasia village in Limpopo, said she wants to fulfil her dream of working for the United Nations (UN).
“I believe that Miss South Africa provides us with the platform and an avenue to make sure we reach our dreams and more people at a larger scale. I am hoping that my social cause is catapulted into the global scale so that I grab the attention of more foundations or the UN itself,” Musida said.
Musida’s hopes to clinch the Miss SA 2020 title and continue the work she has already started at a bigger scale.
