Excited young pupils from Booysen Park High School listened intently as a reigning beauty queen from their neck of the woods spoke to them about achieving their dreams.
Winning the Miss Eastern Cape competition in East London in December last year was similarly a dream Leighshané Tobias never thought would come true.
Now, the 20-year-old has set her sights on the Miss SA title.
The vibrant young woman, who grew up in Schauderville, is a fourth-year foundation phase teaching student at Unisa.
She is also the reigning Miss PE, a title she won in June 2024.
Tobias visited Booysen Park High School on Friday morning, where she addressed the pupils.
Currently, she is doing charity work and says one of her highlights was the work they did on Christmas day.
“We gave out food and pudding as well as party packs to residents in the Malabar informal settlement.
“It really touched my heart to see how grateful the people were.
“For some of them it was their only meal for the day, so I really felt a sense of joy.”
Tobias matriculated from Andrew Rabie High School when she was just 16, having started school at the age of five.
She first went to St Theresa Primary in Schauderville.
“In 2023, the Miss Teen World competition was held in Johannesburg and I made it to the top 40.
“There were more than 130 contestants.
“My message to you is that where you come from, doesn’t define you,” she told the pupils, who listened eagerly.
“Education is the key.
“You have to earn your own success, but it is also hard work.
“Your story might begin here, but it also does not end here.
“Having a dream is not enough.
“You must work on it and make it happen.
“Everyone has the ability to achieve their goals.
“No matter how tough and hard things might be, it is in you to make it happen,” she said.
Booysen Park High School principal Ivan Martins said it was a privilege to host Miss Eastern Cape.
“It is great that we have role models from our own community.
“This is a real inspiration to the children.
“They can now realise that there is life beyond [the northern areas], and greater heights can be achieved in life.”
The Herald
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