A Cinderella story

Miss South Africa 2020 Shudufhadzo Musida has a quiet yet strong presence. Meeting her in person for this issue and cover shoot, I immediately notice her radiant energy and beauty. Her features are delicate, and her skin is flawless, from her bold head to her curvy silhouette.

- NONTANDO MPOSO

In front of the camera, Shudufhadzo Musida morphs into a different character, a professional model who oozes confidence. With Beyoncé softly playing in the background, she moves like a hot knife through butter, working her angles as photographer Austin Malema clicks away.

“As a teenager, I was very much an introvert. I kept to myself and preferred to be in the shadows, but now I’m on one of the biggest platforms in the world – that’s a 180-degree turn,” she says. How does a young girl from the quiet, rural HaMasia village in Limpopo become a beauty queen?

“I always wanted to be a singer, but I had stage fright. I couldn’t stand in front of people to save my life, even for, like, 30 seconds,” she admits. “If I had to take part in a spelling bee in school, every time they put me on stage, I couldn’t get one letter out. But Miss South Africa helped me overcome [my fear of] public speaking. As a finalist, I had to do interviews, but the more I did those, the more comfortable I felt.”

Shudufhadzo also credits singing for having helped her build confidence. “People say I’m good at it, so I think I’ll be dissatisfied if I don’t pursue a music career in the future.”

Miss South Africa 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, the pageant and what it represents are what motivated Shudufhadzo to enter. Since its inaugural event in 1956, it’s evolved to follow an inclusive and diverse direction. Titleholders include Basetsana Kumalo, Jo-Ann Strauss and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, strong women whom many people admire.