Fashioning Modern Africanism

Miss South Africa 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida, unfortunately did not make it to the Top 12 at the 70th Miss World pageant, which was held at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico this morning.  Representing South Africa, twenty-six-year-old Musida – who comes from Ha-Masia in Venda in Limpopo – was one of the front runners throughout the competition. Her win in the prestigious Beauty With a Purpose (BWAP) segment of the pageant fast tracked her into the top 40 Miss World semi-finalists. Musida’s BWAP win was based on her advocacy campaign that focused on removing the stigma associated with mental illness. Miss World judges were impressed with the weekly IGTV Live sessions – Mindful Mondays – that she hosted with mental health experts. These shone a spotlight on “taboo” subjects like depression and suicide. Musida also wrote a children’s book, Shudu Finds Her Magic, which told the story of how she overcame bullying as a child.  The glittering Miss World event was hosted by TV p

Cape Town, Tuesday, August 3, 2021:  This year’s Top 10 Miss South Africa finalists – one of whom will be crowned Miss South Africa 2021 on Saturday, October 16 live from Grand West Arena in Cape Town – have been announced. For the second consecutive year, the pageant will take place in the Mother City and will be simulcast live on M-Net (DStv channel 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) at 17:00, as well as live-streamed on the My DStv App. International audiences can also tune in via the online platform at misssa.live.   The contestants represent four provinces – Gauteng has four (with one from Tshwane), followed by the Western Cape with three, the Eastern Cape with two and Kwa-Zulu Natal with one entrant. They are an impressive group and include a medical doctor working on the Covid frontline; a commercial pilot; owners of a model agency, swimwear company and an online bakery and legal graduates and students.   The Top 3 will go on to represent the country at the world’s three m

Miss South Africa Shudufhadzo Musida can now add the title of author to her impressive list of achievements. Musida has written a children’s book –  Shudu Finds Her Magic , published by Jacana Media in six languages and with delightful illustrations by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne – which will be available in bookstores around the country and online towards the end of August.   The book is inspired by Musida’s own childhood and the bullying she experienced when she moved to a new province and a new school.   Musida is a well-known advocate for mental health awareness, and this year launched her online mental health initiative # MindfulMondays  on her Instagram platform @shudufhadzomusida ,  in conjunction with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) and Discovery Vitality. She explains: “The book is aimed at children aged between four and 12 years of age and deals with bullying and the power of friendship. I hope that youngsters will be able to see themselves reflected in

Miss South Africa Shudufhadzo Musida will be doing a 5km run to raise funds for mental wellbeing on Thursday, April 15, at 07h00 in partnership with Discovery Vitality and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). She will be accompanied by Miss Supranational South Africa and Miss South Africa 2020 first runner-up, Dr Thato Mosehle, who will be representing South Africa at the Miss Supranational pageant later this year. Discovery Vitality – which has partnered with Miss South Africa and her hugely successful #MindfulMondays initiative – will be donating R20 000 to SADAG on Musida’s behalf. Members of the public are invited to join the Team Vitality running community on Strava for free and run virtually with Shudu. Says Musida: “Mental health is a cause close to my heart and I am delighted to be able to do something to raise much-needed money for SADAG, which is doing such a wonderful job at this stressful time. I encourage everyone to join me virtually as well as to donat

    Johannesburg, South Africa  - Special Olympics South Africa and the Shudufhadzo Foundation this past weekend launched their partnership with Fulufhelo Special School in Tohoyandou, Vhembe in Limpopo Province. The partnership will focus on the mental health and physical well-being of children and adults living with an intellectual disability (ID) and also aims to create awareness of the challenges faced by people living with ID in South Africa.                    Ms Shudufhadzo Musida, the Chairperson of the Shudufhadzo Foundation, who spoke at the launch said,  “It is important to note that while ID is not a mental illness, children and adults with ID experience stigmatisation, discrimination, bullying, neglect and marginalisation which leaves them at greater risk of developing mental health issues. They are often diagnosed only with ID and not screened for potential mental health problems.” The partnership was launched with the announcement of a pilot project at Fulufhelo Special

Miss South Africa 2020 Shudufhadzo Musida will be focusing on teen depression in her next #Mindful Mondays conversation to mark Teen Suicide Prevention Week. Musida’s guest is GP and social media influencer Dr Sindi van Zyl and the two will talk about teen depression; its causes and symptoms; are boys and girls affected differently; how does one identify the warning signs for suicide; how to start the conversation with a friend or child about depression or suicide and how does one get help if you, or someone you know is thinking of suicide? Dr Sindi uses her social media platforms to educate people about important health issues and has a special interest in mental health. The conversation takes place on Shudu’s Instagram platform @shudufhadzomusida on Monday, February 15, from 17h00 to 18h00.   #Mindful Mondays, an online mental health initiative hosted in conjunction with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), launched last week and has already proven to be hugely suc

The 24-year-old – who comes from Ha-Masia in Limpopo – has a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Pretoria. She is currently doing her BA Honours in International Relations at the University of Witwatersrand. She will receive R1 million in cash as well as a further R2 million worth of sponsorships and prizes, including the use of a luxury Sandton apartment and a Mercedes-Benz cabriolet for a year.   First runner-up was medical doctor Thato Mosehle (25) from Klerksdorp in the North West who received R250 000 in cash. Second runner-up Natasha Joubert (23), a B Com graduate from Pretoria, Gauteng, collected R100 000.   For the first time in the history of the Miss South Africa pageant, the trio will represent the country at the world’s three most prestigious pageants. Previously, the Miss South Africa Organisation has sent a representative to both Miss Universe and Miss World, but will also now be fielding a candidate to Miss Supranation