It's all about making a difference outside your comfort zone
Two years after being on the stage as Mrs SA semi-finalist, the beautiful Motshidisi 'Mo' Hwande is starring as semi-finalist for the Mrs Bold pageant.
Growing up in the small town of Vredefort, the young mother of two who now resides in Johannesburg, says she has matured over the years. 'Now the pursuit of my dreams is driven by purpose and the need to make an impact by serving in community outreach projects and giving back.'
Mo started her primary school career at Mokwallo Primary and then attended Boiphihlelo Secondary School till grade 10. With her mom working as a domestic worker in Germiston, she faced the reality of a child-headed home at a very young age, but, never allowed it to stand in the way of what she wanted to become.
'Pity stories have an expiry date. You can use your background as an excuse or motivation,' says Mo.
When she later had the opportunity to move to her mom in Germiston, she matriculated there and was crowned the first princess for Miss Creations during her matric year in 2009.
She then studied BA Corporate Communication at the University of Johannesburg, and married the love of her life, Kotsanai, after they met in the parking lot of the complex where they both used to stay.
I invited him to a church service and 'the rest was history,' she says.
Through my journey for the Mrs Bold pageant, I am combining my skills and passions she says, sharing the projects close to her heart where she already made a difference. She baked a dual rainbow cake to share with children at a children's home in Johannesburg, and delivered food for them. She motivated young high school girls and distributed toiletries including sanitary pads for girls from disadvantaged homes. 'This cause speaks to my heart because I remember being a teenage girl using toilet paper wrapped in cut-out cloths for sanitary pads because we couldn't afford pads.'
As a fitness entrepreneur and writer, she is using her experience for a free workout session with the ladies of a home for destitute women, motivating them. 'Women face a lot of challenges and I respect these ladies for surviving abusive relationships and homelessness, choosing a place of safety with their children, and finding the strength to rebuild their lives,' says Mo.
The Mrs Bold competition was established in 2023 and aims to create an unique and empowering platform for married, divorced, widowed and single women with children to showcase their achievements, talents, and contributions to their communities. That Mo sure does, believing her story will serve as that of resilience – not giving up on one's dreams, but rather taking a pause to find purpose beyond yourself and see the value of giving back.
Asking who her role model is, Mo speaks of her admiration for Kopano Shimange, Miss SA Teen of 2008, who has grown into a remarkable entrepreneur, helping women build thriving businesses.
As founder of CarryFit Mo is currently helping women achieve their fitness goals at every state of motherhood, offering online group training, one-on-one coaching and monthly in-person bootcamps.
She has written a Pregnancy Journal which is a wellness tool encouraging and guiding fit and conscious pregnancy, for mommies to prioritize their well-being during pregnancy.
'I would love to go back home to the community I grew up in to encourage young girls to dream withiout limits and to never give up on themselves regardless their situations, she says. After all, 'dreams do not have a physical address,' says Mo. 'If you value yourself, you can pursue your goals.'
'I want to be a point of reference for hope and inspiration for anyone with a dream. Being part of Mrs Bold, has helped me in making that impact outside my comfort zone and immediate environment.'.
The public can support Mo by voting for her by SMS Africa 5656 to 37587. Follow her journey on social media platforms (Instagram) @Fit_Mohwande and @mrs_bold_pageant.
Finalists for Mrs Bold 2025 will be announced in June, with the finale to be held in October.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
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