When Angelinah Sekonyela steps onto the stage at the South African State Theatre on 18 July, she will be carrying more than the hopes of becoming Miss Influence South Africa 2025. She will be carrying a message she believes can transform lives: education can change the course of a person’s future.
Ms Sekonyela, a Top 17 finalist in the leadership-focused pageant, which is held in partnership with Pheli FM and Standard Bank, says her decision to enter the competition was driven by a desire to inspire young people, particularly those growing up in township communities.
“I entered Miss Influence South Africa because I resonate with what they stand for, which is leadership,” said Ms Sekonyela. “I’ve always wanted to be in an influential position and inspire young people, mainly in the townships, not to play small. I want them to know that it doesn’t matter where you grow up. You can rewrite your story and change your life for the better.”
The grand finale, which coincides with Mandela Day, celebrates women who are using their voices and influence to make a difference in society. For Ms Sekonyela, the platform offers an opportunity to rewrite the narrative of leadership among young women and to champion the importance of education.
Growing up in a township, Ms Sekonyela witnessed the challenges many young girls around her faced.
“There was a lack of education, and many girls didn’t have role models,” she said. “Girls became pregnant at a young age, and my community was plagued by poverty. I managed to get out through education by working hard and finishing my matric. I decided that I would always go back to the townships and educate girls about what’s possible.”
Today, Ms Sekonyela is a teacher, a career she credits with changing her family’s circumstances and breaking the cycle of poverty.
“Education lifted my family and me out of poverty,” she said. “Now I’m a teacher, ensuring my family has everything we need.”
While many pageants focus on beauty, Ms Sekonyela sees Miss Influence South Africa as a platform for impact. She hopes her story will encourage young women to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams despite difficult circumstances.
“I want to educate young girls about the power of education and teach them that if God could do it for me, He can do it for them,” she said. “I’m a tangible representation of a dream realised.”
Inspired by the words of former president Nelson Mandela, who famously said that education is the key to success, Ms Sekonyela hopes to use her voice to empower a new generation of young women to become leaders in their communities.
As South Africans commemorate Mandela Day on 18 July, Ms Sekonyela hopes her journey from a township upbringing to the national stage will remind young people that their circumstances do not define their future.
“It can be done,” she said. “You just have to do your part.”
For Ms Sekonyela, winning the crown would be more than a personal achievement. It would be another opportunity to prove that greatness can emerge from humble beginnings and that one person’s story can inspire many others to dream bigger.
