South Africa, Angola To participate in maiden Miss Wheelchair Beauty Pageant
Two contestants from South Africa and Angola are representing Africa at the maiden edition of the Miss Wheelchair World beauty pageant to be held on October 7 in the Polish capital Warsaw.
South Africa is represented by Lebohang Monyatsi who is Africa’s 1st Runaway Model in a wheelchair while Angola is represented by 25-year-old Victoria Jose out of the 24 contestants.
The international event seeks to change the attitude of people towards physically challenged women who are in wheelchairs, event organisers The Only One Foundation – based in Poland – said in a statement.
“Our purpose is to show the world that there are beautiful women in wheelchairs in countries all over the world and to remind you that the wheelchair is not a constraint but an addition to your personality,” they said.
Every single woman in a wheelchair has the right to be whoever she wants and to feel beautiful.
“Every single woman in a wheelchair has the right to be whoever she wants and to feel beautiful,” the organisers added.
Voting for the most popular contestant started on Wednesday and ends on October 6.
Among the finalists are contestants from Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Guatemala, India, Italy, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S.A.
It took two months to select the 24 finalists who were announced in August. They will undergo preparatory workshops for the final starting from September 29, the organisers said.
The contest will be held at the Ursynów Arena in Warsaw on October 7.
Poland has been hosting the national Miss Wheelchair pageant since 2013 and The Only One Foundation calls on other countries to join them in hosting national Miss Wheelchair pageants.
Profiles
South Africa’s Lebohang Monyatsi
She is not new to pageants being the only finalist in a wheelchair at the Face of the Globe 2017 international beauty pageant.
The Runway Model is a Social Psychology graduate and currently studying Communication Sciences.
Lebohang Monyatsi has also represented her country in Wheelchair Basketball between 2008 and 2015.
She was given the Extra Ordinary Champion award at the 2017 South African Youth Awards in April for her achievement across the African continent despite her challenge.
You can vote for her here: Vote Lebohang Monyatsi
Angola’s Victoria Jose
She is 25 years old and says she upholds three things in life: God, family and friends.
“A good sense of humor plays a big role in my life as well, that’s why I can’t go day without making someone laugh or smile. My definition of a happy heart is a heart that cares for others and accept differences,” she said.
