Bulawayo beauty vying for Miss Perth Africa

HER undeterred determination to make a positive impact in society, through actively participating in social and none social events, may have just landed local rising entrepreneur Sakhile Skye Ndlovu a one-way ticket to being an internationally acclaimed business driven individual.

Possessing unique social communication skills, coupled with a dazzling smile, style, beauty and of course intellect, Sakhile was recently selected among many other African beauties to participate at this year's Miss Africa Perth in Australia.

Representing Zimbabwe this year and the rest of southern Africa, Sakhile said she was ecstatic and hoped to be among the top.

The event will be held on 13 June at the Astor Theatre in Perth, Australia.

"I have been selected to represent Zimbabwe in the Miss Africa Perth 2015 pageant. It also covers southern Africa since there were no contestants from neighbouring countries in this year's competition. The event is all about being a youth ambassador and serving the community through various projects in favour of our individual countries. The coronation is just a few weeks away.

"Our photos have been added onto a Facebook album and the contestant who gets the most attention, of course through 'likes' will be awarded on the day. So please visit the Miss Africa Perth Facebook page and support your girl," she said as she sought support from fellow Zimbabweans.

The pageant has been running annually for the past nine years, bringing and bridging the African community in Western Australia.

The pageant, being community oriented, aims at assisting the winner in running several fundraising projects for the less privileged.

"Last year a Zim girl won and raised funds for people affected by the Ebola virus in West Africa," she said.

Sakhile said she has been in Perth, Australia since February this year to study for her Masters in Professional Communication.

"I saw this competition and applied after their closing date and was still invited for auditions based on my blog pictures. I was actually going there to network because I thought I would never make it since I had only been here two weeks and the queue had more Zimbabweans than any other country.

"However, when my turn came to audition, I went up there and spoke about my years in Zimbabwe after leaving South Africa, the work I was doing and the Rhino Walk project and working with other community empowerment organisations. That's the type of candidate they wanted, so I made it with another Zimbabwe girl who has been based in Perth for a few years," she said.

A total of 13 girls were nominated from the auditions, with Zimbabwe being the only Southern African country to participate at the event.

"I am the only one who has spent most of my life in Africa compared to the other girls. Since then it's just been rehearsals, we met the US Consul General last week, Cynthia Griffin and discussed international issues, so it's not just about Australia.

"If I manage to crack the top, I want to use whatever sponsorship I get to aid a project in Bulawayo. I will be partnering with a certain multinational organisation to aide in the fight against malnutrition and hidden hunger," she said.

Sakhile was born in Bulawayo where she attended Convent School from primary to Advanced level.

She studied Media and Marketing at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Pietermaritzburg in South Africa.

"I am an introvert but entrepreneurial and business minded, I want to change the digital footprint of Zimbabwe by highlighting the positives through online marketing platforms.

This is the first time for me to model, although I have done a few photo shoots in Bulawayo and it was all just a hobby," she added.