Lelo Nkosi

"Growing up in Mandeni(KZN), which is strategically midway between Durban and Richards Bay - I grew up being stimulated by ‘fixing things I’m unhappy about’; ‘proving people wrong’ kind of mentality. Mandeni being an area that has one of the highest incidences of HIV in the world – outsiders would tend to refer to it as a place of no good health and wealth. Such headlines pushed me to wanting to become the best and unique successful ‘products’ from Mandeni."

My name is Nompumelelo Patience Nkosi well known as ‘Lelo Nkosi’, I’ll be turning 24 on the 30th of September this year. I’m currently doing my 5th year in Medicine (UKZN), I’m a beauty pageant girl, a speaker, MC and still say I’m an aspiring business lady.

Medicine and modelling (pageants) have shaped who I am today - they both positively influenced my character and how I carry myself privately and publicly. I’m the current Miss eThekwini Municipality, former Miss UKZN and have numerous titles under my name. I'm passionate about inspiring young girls especially those from townships because that’s where I grew up. I still see how teenage girls are easily ‘distracted and delayed’ on their roads to success back at home which is one of the reasons why I then started a GirlzNetwork organisation that mainly aims to empower girls through creating a sisterhood environment of support. We encourage them to abstain, love and respect their bodies and themselves enough to know their worth. Sometimes to be the change you desire you don’t need to go through or experience that challenge in order for you to conquer it. To win some battles at times all you need is ‘knowledge and exposure’. Being exposed to anything you don’t like - God just wants you to fix it, and that’s where I also draw my motivation from. So I often ask myself ‘now that I know about it and its effects – what am I doing about it?

I find beauty in challenging myself, breaking the unbreakable, trying to do the impossible and I must say, my parents have to be my greatest inspiration (their love and support). They always remind me that it doesn’t matter what’s against you when you know what’s within you. I also have a promotions company which looks to expanding to new, and very different ventures this year.

In my life right now I’m where I believe God wants me to be. I'm in a stage where I’m only motivated by the lady I’m yet to become, therefore I’m driven by potential from within. I’m so content with who and all that I am, I’ve accepted what I’m made of which lead me to loving both my strengths and weaknesses. I’m grateful for everything that I’ve achieved but greatly appreciate the doors that never opened and failures I went through. I prioritise my time and happiness, the only time I get worried is when I’m not working towards being the woman I still dream to meet one day (the future powerful Lelo Nkosi, an aspiring doctor and business lady). I’m literally in a journey of finding myself, and to me it means I’m in motion with possibilities and not drowning in impossibilities.      

I recently read this quote ‘In a world full of trends, remain timeless and fabulous’. And that’s all I want to be but not by doing things to be recognised instead by doing things worth recognition."

Favourite colour: Pink

Favourite cake: Caramel Velvet Cake

Favourite music: Gospel, GQOM, Afrosoul and House

IG:@lelo_nkosi

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Twitter: @LeloNkosi9