Mother with a heart for others

 

The proud mother of two young children, Kutlwano (7) and Tshiamo (5), says she looks forward to the challenges the competition poses. “It is going to be hard work. I have a lot of fundraising to do from now until the crowning on 16 December. Luckily I have a very supportive husband, Tumelo, who encourages and motivates me.”

 

Jennifer plans to hosts two high tea events and a main gala event to raise money for charity as part of the competition.

 

She is already actively involved in Project Pixie, an outreach programme that supplies toiletries each month to 20 school girls from Ikageng in Potchefstroom, and she is determined to make a difference with more new projects.

 

“I believe anyone should get actively involved in community upliftment projects. It all starts in the mind. Every thought leads to an action, and that is what is needed – action.”

 

She says that although she will be mostly judged on her involvement in charity, she will also have to do ramp walking during the judging week prior to the crowning. This is part of the more glamourous side of the pageant.

 

Taking a chance bears fruit

 

The Mrs Africa competition is the first competition Jennifer has entered. “I never thought I would enter a pageant, but when I was approached by a previous Mrs Africa, Jeanette Potgieter, during a charity event in Potchefstroom, I decided to take a chance.”

 

Jennifer says things happened very fast from that moment on. “I basically entered on the day that the competition closed. I did not even have a photograph that had to accompany the entry form and just took a quick selfie in my car.”

 

That selfie and of course Jennifer’s passion for community outreach projects contributed to her being chosen as a finalist.