My name is Dumisa Onesimo, and I am a 19-year-old pageant and fashion model from a small town called Mount Ayliff (eMaxesibeni) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. I am also the founder of Miss Radiant Mount Ayliff.
Modelling has always been my passion. From a young age, I dreamed of participating in pageants and showcasing my talent on stage. However, growing up in a small town meant there were very few opportunities available, and for many years there were no pageants in my area.
When the first major pageant in the Alfred Nzo Municipality, Mr & Miss Alfred Nzo, was introduced, I was excited and eager to participate. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. I was scammed by someone who promised to assist me with my pageant fees. I lost money and was left disappointed, feeling as though my dream had come to an end.
Despite that setback, I refused to give up. I believed that I was born to be on stage and that my passion was greater than my circumstances. Instead of allowing my dreams to become a nightmare, I continued searching for opportunities.
My breakthrough came when I entered a local pageant hosted by Yolisa Maphekula, Miss Sigidini 2023. That experience changed my life, as I was crowned Queen. From that moment, I knew I was on the right path. Since then, I have continued pursuing my passion and have been blessed to achieve several milestones. My titles include: Miss PCA Queen 2024; Miss Inner Beauty Queen 2025; Miss Ward 03 Second Runner-Up 2024; Miss Mvalwen First Runner-Up 2025; Miss PCA First Runner-Up 2023. In addition, I was honoured to receive the Miss Sigidini Public Choice Award.
Today, I am proud to be an official finalist for Miss Teen Unique Eastern Cape, one of the province’s most impactful pageants. Directed by Zizibele Mbatha and Phiwokuhle Mayeza, the pageant focuses on grooming young women, developing leadership skills, promoting self-confidence, and inspiring positive change among teenagers across the Eastern Cape.
I decided to join this pageant because I believe that modelling is more than beauty and fashion. It is a powerful platform that allows individuals to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. As a young leader, I am passionate about empowering women and girls to reach their full potential while encouraging young people to become positive change-makers in their communities.
I strongly believe that I am in the right industry and participating in the right pageant to fulfill this purpose. My goal is to demonstrate that with dedication, perseverance, and resilience, it is possible to overcome obstacles, break barriers, and achieve greatness. No matter where you come from or what challenges you face, your dreams are valid if you are willing to work for them.
The Miss Teen Unique Eastern Cape finale will take place on 27 June, and I would appreciate the support of everyone who believes in my journey. You can follow and support me on my social media platforms: TikTok: @necy_001; Facebook: NE CY; Instagram: @Necy.