7 days ago
Miss Curvylicious finalist Pebetse Kekana champions self-love and confidence at 42
At 42, Pebetse Kekana wears many hats – wife, mother of three and finalist for the Miss Curvylicious SA pageant this October.
But it's not about the crown for her. It's about standing up for what she believes in and learning to love herself, flaws and all.
Kekana told the African Reporter that she joined the pageant because she felt it was a platform for self-expression, confidence-building and self-improvement.
She said pageantry empowers young girls, especially those who are disadvantaged or dealing with teenage pregnancies.
Miss Curvylicious SA is commemorating plus-size women around the country, their beauty, fashion sense and leadership. For Kekana, being a finalist is not just an achievement, but proof of the purpose and energy she put into this part of her life.
'This pageant experience has been empowering. It made me look beyond surface expectations and love who I am, not just how I present, but how I lead, communicate, and serve others.
'As a woman, it reminded me that softness and strength need not be mutually exclusive and confidence is not about perfection but about authenticity,' she added.
She said she considers beauty to be kindness, self-acceptance and the way someone treats others. Kekana added that confidence is owning your story, your body and your voice without needing permission.
But the road wasn't always easy as she battled self-doubt, like many women.
'One of my biggest obstacles is that inner voice that questions whether I'm good enough. This pageant made me face that fear and become a better person because of it,' she said.
If she wins Miss Curvylicious SA, Kekana wants to use the platform to promote body confidence, mental health and self-esteem.
She also wants to create safe spaces for honest conversations and work with schools and local organisations to promote kindness, diversity and self-esteem.
As SA celebrates Women's Month, Kekana concluded with a message to women about self-love and acceptance.
'You are enough, not when you have lost the weight, not when you've met someone else's standards. You are enough today, as you exist.
'It is hard to love and embrace yourself; it is a process. Yet each step you take towards self-love, however small, counts. Be gentle with yourself.'
