A 21-year-old Mamelodi, Pretoria, pageant contestant says her ambitions extend beyond winning the Miss Mzansi 2026 crown, as she hopes to use the platform to inspire young women and help young people access education and skills-development opportunities.
Chantel Kulani Sithole, who is currently competing in Miss Mzansi 2026, said she wants young women in Mamelodi to have role models who demonstrate that their circumstances do not have to determine their future.
Sithole said her journey is guided by the belief that success is not about appearing perfect, but about having the determination to continue pursuing one’s goals.
“I hope to inspire young women in Mamelodi to have role models who show them that effort matters and that life isn’t about perfection but about realism, responsibility and respect.”
She said she wants young women to take their ambitions seriously and not allow difficult circumstances to become barriers to achieving their dreams.
“I want to encourage them to respect their craft, to get up and show up for their dreams so they don’t get stuck behind barriers to achieve their dreams because of their circumstances.”
For Sithole, the competition is also an opportunity to create a purpose beyond the pageant itself.
She said that if she carries the crown, she wants to use the platform responsibly and build on the work she has already started.
“My ambition beyond the competition is to carry the crown with respect and responsibility, to continue with what I’ve started but this time with a greater purpose and a greater impact.”
Part of that vision includes working with organization’s that can help young people gain access to education and skills-development opportunities.
Sithole said she hopes to collaborate with existing organizations to help young people access quality education and skills opportunities that can assist them in developing themselves.
Her message to young women is that they should not measure their success only by the results they achieve, but also by the effort and dedication they put into pursuing their goals.
“Everything happens for a reason. Never be hard on yourself. Measure success by your effort, your hard work and dedication.”
She also believes young people should not wait until they have substantial financial resources before starting to pursue their ambitions.
“You don’t need millions to start. You need your mindset, knowledge, to start right away and to start with what you have.”
As she continues her Miss Mzansi 2026 journey, Sithole hopes her participation can become more than a personal achievement and instead provide an opportunity to encourage young women to believe in their abilities and pursue opportunities available to them.
For the Mamelodi contestant, the crown represents more than recognition it represents a potential platform from which she hopes to create a greater purpose and lasting impact in the lives of young people.
