The 17-year-old Tsitsi Sibanda of Eric Louw High School is the new Miss Musina. The Grade 12-pupil won the title during an event at the Nancefield Community Hall at the weekend.

The winners of the pageant have won themselves a weekend at Emperor's Palace and a modeling photo shoot at Gold Reef City in Gauteng. They took home cosmetics, hair products and electrical appliances. The pageant was organized by Michaela Modeling Agency and the event was jointly done by Teboho Hair Products, Red Cross and the Indian business fraternity in Musina.

After the crowning ceremony, Tsitsi said that she was humbled to go home with the crown "because I have worked hard. I know I deserve it and I will represent the people of Musina well wherever I go.”

The organizer of the event, Ms Welma Aphane of Michaela Modeling Agency, said the aim of this annual event was to keep the youth of Musina from the streets. “If the youth are not kept busy, they find themselves taking drugs, alcohol or engaging in unsafe sex. We want them to be responsible future leaders who will be able to make a meaningful contribution in their communities.”

She says a total number of 22 participants took part in the pageant.  “Participants were judged on self-confidence, general knowledge, their proposed contribution to community building and leadership qualities. The winners did extremely well and we also encourage those who did not win to participate again in future. The youth should also understand that this is not only about winning, it is also about making contributions in their communities.”

The winners will also get an opportunity to be trained in life skills by the Red Cross at Mokopane. “After the training, they will raise funds for charity. They will also act as ambassadors against HIV and other social issues that are affecting our communities,” Aphane said.