A shiny, rough diamond has been found
WHILE the rest of the country might be forgetting who the winner of Diamonds in the Ruff is, the experience is firmly etched on Thembekazi Mazaleni's memory.
BELLE OF THE BALL: THEMBEKAZI MAZALENI 
The 22-year old lass born in East London was on Tuesday announced the winner, beating off competition from 15 equally attractive women.
The reality show on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 107) was aimed at grooming inexperienced candidates and turning them into accomplished models. It started on November 1 2011.
"I'm ecstatic!" she exclaimed when Sowetan spoke to her on Monday. "I was not always interested in modelling, but now that I have won, I absolutely love it," Thembekazi said.
Her win was made even more special by the fact that her mother, Nomithi, was not at all convinced that she should enter the competition.
"She was not happy about it, and I literally had to beg her to allow me to join the competition. When all of that failed, I asked Marang (Setshwaelo) who was organising the competition to speak to her on my behalf and she finally relented," she said.
Then, the final year electrical engineering student at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein was off to Johannesburg for auditions.
"I was nervous at first but with time, I started relaxing and got on well with the other girls. I can't believe I have won and it has not really sunk in yet," Thembekazi giggled.
"The modelling bug has bit me. I am now considering doing it full-time. It is also important for one to get an education because, interesting as it might be, it (modelling) is a very short career," she said.
Since her victory, Thembekazi has been treated like royalty by both her parents and friends.
"When I was announced the winner I was so happy I called my mother at one o'clock in the morning and she woke my two sisters up.
"All my friends also want to be close to me. I love it!"
sekhebereshe
"When all of that failed, I asked Marang (Setshwaelo) who was organising the competition to speak to her on my behalf and she finally relented," she said."so you knew one of the organizers?
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