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FEATURE: Lehlogonolo makes history
MAKING HISTORY LEHLOGONOLO MACHABA
On July 6, the organisers of the Miss South Africa pageant announced the 30 women who will be competing for the coveted title. For the first time in the pageants history a transgender woman made it through to this exclusive group...
Lehlogonolo Machaba who is a fashion designer and entrepreneur comes from Letlhabile in the North West Province unfortunately didn’t make it through to the final 10 who will compete for the coveted crown at a glittering extravaganza, due to take place in October.
Her bio, submitted to the pageant organisers shows just how motivated and driven the 24 year old Lehlogonolo is. She is currently employed as a model booker at Invade Models and is the founder and owner of the DeMollies fashion brand. With a diploma in fashion design technology from the Tshwane University of Technology, where she won best creative student of the year, she is both beautiful and intelligent.
When questioned why she decided to enter Miss South Africa 2021 and why she thought she deserve to win the Miss South Africa title, Lehlogonolo replied, “Transgender women are almost always ostracised from such opportunities which is why I never thought I’d see anyone like myself on such a platform.” She added that, “The daily murder of queer and trans-identifying people in our country is devastating.” And through the Miss South Africa platform, she would “be able to advocate for the LGBTQIA community and more specifically queer-identifying women.” It would be an “opportunity to empower every marginalised person and become a beacon of hope for young girls out there regardless of whatever it is they think hinders them from attaining whatever goal they have.”
Growing up her greatest supporter was her mother and she says she learned from her that one must “never settle for anything below your worth.” Her mothers mantra is that one must “put God first before all your plans. Amazing results come to those who know when to fight and when to wait patiently.”
Quite clearly Lehlogonolo is aware of the struggles within the community and more specifically the LGBTQI+ community where she volunteers at a local community centre, Access Chapter
With many people in the world seeing beauty pageants as demeaning and objectifying. Lehlogonolo believes they are “more relevant than ever”, saying that they give young women an opportunity “to dream big and chase their dreams,” and “inspiring young women to be exceptional and believe in changing the world for the better.”
Describing herself as “Blessed, brave, and empowered.” She believes that through education and determination over-coming “the stigma against queer and trans-identifying individuals” is possible and it’s the one thing she would like to change about South Africa. Adding that, “through unity we can conquer anything be it a virus or hate crime. Nothing can stand against us.” But Lehlogonolo has made history, she has been brave enough to compete as the country’s first trans-woman applicant to make it through to the 30 Miss SA finalists which receives thousands of applications from women across the country.
As an LGBTQI+ activist, Nolo, as she is known, says her goal is to fight for the respect that trans-women deserve. “In the future I want to be a well-established fashion designer and have my own clothing line. I’d like to empower young women, as well people in the LGBTQI+ community. I want to become a philanthropist and inspire people to dream big.”
