Making DUT proud in her first year of studies is the talented Amahle Sithole, who won the modelling titles of Miss Durban and Miss Grand Durban Top Model 2020 respectively, in one pageant, at Albany House in Durban, on 16 February 2020.
The gorgeous lass is studying for her first-year in fashion design at DUT and could not contain her excitement over her double win.
“I am over the moon as I did not expect to win. I was in shock when I was announced as one of the top five contestants, and even more surprised when I was announced as the winner,” she said excitedly.
She entered the competition after seeing a poster on one of her friends WhatsApp statuses and decided to seize the opportunity.
Sithole also said that she paid an entry fee of R250 and sold 10 tickets to secure her position as a contestant. Speaking more on the pageant itself, Sithole stressed that there were 17 young ladies in the modelling competition and it proved to be a very tough competition. “I’m a model from Pietermaritzburg so competing with Durban models for this competition really scared me at first, but I conquered my fears and was victorious,” she added.
When asked about who her role models are, Sithole said she greatly admired her mother, Oprah Winfrey, the late Princess Diana and South Africa’s Bonang Matheba. “What sets these majestic women apart is their essential use of their generous demeanour and that to me is a true role model,” she stressed.
Besides clinching these titles, Sithole has also won numerous other titles such as Miss Umgungundlovu 2018, Miss Goldie Igama 2018, Miss Teen KZN Capital City 2018, Miss KZN Heroine 2018, Miss Face Of Msunduzi 2019 and Miss Eco Tourism World South Africa Ambassador 2019.
She added that being able to use her creativeness and design her own gowns would be an added bonus when she enters more competitions. “I have to wear evening gowns to pageants so I will be designing my own so that I don’t have to hire them,” she chuckled.
For the petite Sithole, the titles mean that she will be able to work more with young people, and motivate them to rise to the challenge of building a better and brighter future as South Africans.
Sithole also won R1000 in prize money, and an automatic entry to compete at the Miss KZN Queen 2020 pageant. “If I were to win this title, I would be given the opportunity to go overseas to represent South Africa,” she said.
Her advice to future, aspiring models is to always be humble. “Trust and believe in yourself, this industry is full of criticism and you should allow criticism to make you stronger and not break you,” she stressed.
Pictured: DUT’s Amahle Sithole is Miss Durban and Miss Grand Durban Top Model 2020.
Waheeda Peters
