A 19-year-old student, Miss Rotondwa Musitha of Makhado, was crowned Miss Vhembe during a beauty pageant at the Thohoyandou Town Hall a fortnight ago. She is in her second year of studying business administration at the Regenesis Business School.

Twelve beautiful girls from the four municipalities in Vhembe vied for the title. Rotondwa went home with R12 000 cash, a clothing voucher of R10 000 from Sun Odds, a R12 000 clothing voucher from P Designs and a clothing voucher from Venda Lover.

The first princess, Gundo Nevhutanda (18) of Thohoyandou, received R8 000 and the second princess, Vhuhwavho Nemuramba (21) of Thohoyandou went home with R6 000. Miss Personality, Lebo Maleka of Musina, went home with R1 000.

“In 2010 I won the Miss Makhado FM and Miss Vhembe competitions, in 2011 Miss Valentine and in 2012 Miss Triegies," said Rotondwa. "I am looking forward to the day I will be representing this province in the finals of Miss South Africa,” she said.

She thanks her parents, who encouraged her to participate in the beauty pageant.

A former Miss Black Leopards and Miss Phala Phala FM, Tovhowani Neluvhalani, was the main organiser of the contest. "I was born in a very supportive family and my parents encouraged me to take beauty pageants very seriously. I decided to do something to contribute to development of my community, and that is where the idea came into being."

Neluvhalani thanks all the stakeholders who supported them during the contest. "I would like to thank the parents who trusted me and gave their children permission to come and participate in the project. I will never forget Do Light Transport, Baloyi Attorneys, P Designs, Venda Lover, Sun Odds and Zukwa Clothing for their support,” she added.