Patience Bambalele

Miss Soweto Motshidisi Goqwana believes that the beauty contest has helped her personal growth.

Goqwana, 21, of Mzimhlophe in Soweto, will be handing over her crown to her successor on Saturday at Johannesburg's Gold Reef City.

She said that winning the title had been an educational experience.

"It has been an exciting and fruitful journey for me. It has helped me to grow as a person. I have done a lot of radio and magazine interviews as part of the exposure."

Goqwana said she has been involved in charity work, which included feeding schemes, in Soweto.

"I believe that I have benefited from the pageant in terms of knowledge and exposure. I have spent most of my time with the Soweto Children's Home and Orlando Children's Home. I have learnt to be humble and to listen to people."

Her dream is to make it big in television, and she hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Miss Soweto winners such as Basetsana Khumalo and Augustine Masilela.

Goqwana is studying a course in communication. She could not take part in the Miss South Africa contest last year because she was too busy.

"But this year I will be part of Miss South Africa and I am looking forward to that."

Goqwana dreams of a career in broadcasting and she wants to specialise in television.