By Tamlyn Canham
Lehlogonolo Machaba has just made South African beauty pageant history. The 26-year-old is the first transgender woman to openly enter the Miss South Africa pageant.
She was announced as one of the Top 30 contestants on Tuesday afternoon. Miss SA officials announced in May that trans women would be able to enter the pageant for the first time.
Lehlogonolo, who is from Oskraal, Letlhabile, says she is proud to be among the Top 30 hopefuls.
“I am proud to announce that I have OFFICIALLY made it to the #Top30 of #MissSA2021
She says she is ready to go all the way!
“I will continue to push for change and acceptance of everyone in the LGBTQI+ community and being the first EVER TransWoman in the competition I can declare that by the grace of God TOP 15 here we come.”
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Ready to silence the haters
Lehlogonolo says she has received both positive and negative comments since the announcement was made.
“I knew I would be met with praise and equally met with a lot of transphobia. This is our time to shine and show up, let’s silence them by being positive and breaking boundaries.
“I’m doing this for all the marginalized people, the girls, gays and theys who’ve always been told that they will never amount to anything THIS IS FOR YOU.”
Entering #MissSA2021 I knew I would be met with praise and equally met with a lot of transphobia. This is our time to shine and show up, let’s silence them by being positive and breaking boundaries.
— IG: @Lehlogonolo.Machaba (@De_Lehlogonolo) July 6, 2021
Thank you all for all the love and support. I’m doing this for all the marginalized people, the girls, gays and theys who’ve always been told that they will never amount to anything THIS IS FOR YOU. Thanks to #MissSA2021 for this opportunity #Top30. Voting link in bio pic.twitter.com/EhePtW1863
— IG: @Lehlogonolo.Machaba (@De_Lehlogonolo) July 6, 2021
Gauteng’s Top 30 contestants
Gauteng is leading the way with the most contestants in the Top 30. Miss SA officials say this year’s contestants include “two medical doctors, an attorney, a commercial pilot, an environmental specialist as well as models, graduates, and students”.
Some of the contestants are also businesswomen.
Here’s a list of the Gauteng contestants:
Kgatlhiso Modisane
Moratwe Maxima
Ferini Dayal
Kgothatso Dithebe
Ané Oosthuysen
Cheneil Hartzenberg
Danielle Marais
Keashel van der Merwe
Olin-Shae Dela Cruz
Pearl Ntshehi
Precious Mndalama
Tiffiny Francis
Visit the Miss SA website for more details on how to vote.
Main image credit: Instagram/@lehlogonolo.machaba



