Newly Crowned Teen Universe South Africa Kamogelo Makgato
18-year-old Kamogelo Makgato from Polokwane in Bendor, was crowned Teen Universe South Africa on Sunday at Emperor Palace in Johannesburg (Kempton Park).
The win propels her to represent South Africa on the global stage at the Teen Universe pageant in the Dominican Republic next year.
She expressed her gratitude to her family, particularly her parents, Masego and Thomas Makgato, and her manager, Sharon Mdingi.
“Heartfelt thanks are extended to my family and friends for their unwavering encouragement throughout this remarkable journey,” said Kamogelo
Kamogelo acknowledges the support from sponsors Mercedes-Benz Polokwane, BMW Polokwane, Shynebright Entertainment, Rostec College Polokwane, and Richfield Polokwane.
Kamogelo started modelling in 2016 and cites Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, crowned Miss South Africa 2017 and Miss Universe 2017, as her role model.
“I joined the modelling industry in 2016. My first modelling agency groomed and taught me all the basics about modelling. The modelling world can be rough; you must respect yourself. Education is important, so put school first. In everything you do, not everyone will support you. It’s not about how many times you fall; what matters is how many times you stand up again.”
Kamogelo Makgato initiated the Sisters Unite Movement, aiming to help young girls restore their dignity.With over R500,000 raised and a goal of R1 million during her reign, she aims to support matriculants stepping into tertiary education in January, offering them a brighter future.
“The initiative focuses on encouraging, motivating, and supporting young girls from rural areas. I will be uplifting my sisters who are more in need than others with motivational talks. One of the most important reasons why I started this is to put a stop to hate between girls, as it is still a huge problem in society due to the lack of love, support, or encouragement given to each other,” said Makgato.
As the newly crowned Teen Universe South Africa, Kamogelo actively seeks collaborations with tertiary institutions and private businesses in South Africa, viewing them as vital elements in her mission to create impactful change.
Makgato holds other titles such as Queen of the North 2017, Miss Tzaneen Lifestyle, Miss Hope Teen 2018, and Miss Hope Overall Queen 2018.