Aspiring young beauty queen Anani Dimbaza is a pretty and bubbly Gordon’s Bay tween who describes herself as being naturally confident, holding up a positive self-image and fun to hang out with. Bolstering these admirable personality traits, is vying for the crown as Little Miss South Africa finalist with heart for positive change through community involvement and charity.
“For me, competing in the pageant is mostly about the fun and experience, 25% is about the crown. However, clinching the title honour would be overwhelming, but also so exciting at the same time,” shared the typically extroverted 11-year-old girl.
She humorously added that walking out on stage with the crown would not change who she, is or exempt her from chores and helping in and around the house.
The Grade 6 Gordon’s Bay Primary School learner realised her passion for modelling last January. Encouraged by the belief that everyone should be able to be given the opportunity to do that which they are good at, she entered the Little Miss SA competition in November.
The pageant is Anani’s very first time competing as an aspiring model, and on a national level at that. Her love for the catwalk and being in front of the camera lens is fuelled by a natural desire to uplift, inspire and empower fellow youngsters and children in the community.
“I would love to afford children from adverse backgrounds and disadvantages communities access to education, which is key to life,” she related.
Anani draws inspiration from SA beauty queens Lalela Mswanena and Zozibini Tunzi. The avid young model believes that she is worthy and deserving of the crown because she is real and vocal against bullying, which is prevalent among her peers and has catastrophic effects on confidence.
She also believes that beauty pageants maintain their relevance in society for the benefit of boosting much-needed confidence, aiding a healthy self-concept, building positive friendships and camaraderie, bettering communication and ploughing back. This despite who you are and where you come from.
A little-known fact about her is that she loves eating lemons spiced with a hint of cayenne pepper and salt. According to Anani’s very supportive mother, Lindeka, this little beauty-pageant contestant has the remarkable characteristic of not being scared of failure and wanting to try anything and everything when given the chance.
An example of this is her participation in the reality cooking show, Kids Kitchen Relay, which sees two teams of three going head-to-head in a relay cook-off.
Anani was in a team of three who were given a theme, and each had a turn to prepare one dish over three rounds for a chance to walk away with the winner’s title and grand prize. She and her teammates, unfortunately, lost in the semi-finals.
“Despite the outcome, she considered the experience as fun and even said that she would do it again,” said Lindeka.
Anani, as part of her community involvement, has championed a shoe donation project in aid of learners of ACJ Phakade Primary School in Nomzamo.
At a special presentation event due to take place on Monday 28 February, about 20 pairs of school shoes – collected with help from Anani’s dad, who rallied friends in support of the worthy cause – will be distributed to the school and its learners.
Anani will compete in the pageant finale to be held at the Emperors Palace in Gauteng on Sunday 27 March. To vote for Anani, a payment referenced LMS13 (her voting code) must be made to Little Miss SA’s bank account. Votes cost R15 for five and R30 for 10. For the banking details, contact Lindeka on 083 335 7288.
