Miss Mpumalanga's first princess has put her societal influence and wealth of cultural currency behind a local brand of sanitary pads.
You might recall, a few months ago we profiled Vivian Mokome who is the founder of Dignity Sanitary Pads. She aimed to create a brand for South African women that is free of toxic chemicals and coatings while ensuring that as many women as possible have access to this basic need.
Vivian has now roped in a current Miss Mpumalanga princess Angela Banda as a brand ambassador as she looks to further her venture.
Meet 24-year-old Chemical Engineering student, model and aspirant entrepreneur hailing from a farm in Carolina, Mpumalanga.
Read more | Why Vivian Mokome makes organic sanitary towels – 'I think a man designed the pads we use'
Angela entered the Miss Mpumalanga Pageant twice.
“This has created a bedrock towards my journey as a model," she explains.
Before all this notoriety and fan fair Angela was fully focused on her studies and in her spare time learning the inner workings of the hospitality industry.
“This has sparked my passion for entrepreneurship and has allowed me to see the huge disparity between women and Men in the real business space hence my advocacy for women's entrepreneurship.”
After being crowned Miss Mpumalanga's first princess in March this year, Angela was fortunate to be selected by Seasoned Agency whose main objective is to grow and hone upcoming talents, to be part of their 2024/25 model and brand representatives.
“This has indeed opened multitudes of possibilities for me and I’m forever thankful for this opportunity. It is through Seasoned Agency that I have been selected to be the Brand Ambassador for the two Major Brands, Omoda South Africa, and Dignity Sanitary Pads.”
Read more | Skeem GP gives pupils hundreds of free sanitary towels
Based on tested standardisations and the South African Health Product Regulator (SAPHRA), Dignity Pads are the sole organic sanitary pad in the country with extensive absorption capacity and comfort, these elements are said to provide healthy and conducive experiences for women during their menstrual cycles.
“Furthermore, it is advised that the Dignity Sanitary Pad will have a direct effect towards reduction of cervical cancer and other gynaecological conditions associated with poor quality sanitary pads,” she explains passionately.
Angela believes that, “no women or girl out there voluntarily chooses to be in their menstrual space and the scarcity of resources amongst our society makes it difficult for young girls in the rural areas and various townships to afford sanitary pads yet they are not part of social grants".
“It is my strong advocacy that sanitary pads should be attached to children's grants and be made available affordably or gratuitously to all girls and women.”
The brand's founder, Vivian, is honoured to have Anegla's involvement in her product.
"We are honored to announce our partnership with Angela Banda, the first Princess of the Miss Mpumalanga 2024 pageant, as our national brand ambassador. Angela exemplifies the dignity we strive to empower in young black women everywhere. It's imperative that young women understand the importance of the quality of the sanitary pads they use, as it can have lasting impacts on their health. Angela's resilience and determination, despite her background, make her the perfect advocate for this cause.
"The conventional pads distributed for free often contain harmful materials that can lead to infertility and other health issues. Dignity sanitary napkins which are crafted from organic, hypoallergenic, chemical-free and environmentally friendly material are packaged in food-grade foil to prioritize women's health and well-being. With Angela's leadership, we aim to educate and empower young African women, ensuring a future of dignity and vitality," Vivian says.
Angela's journey in this space has been short-lived, and she is already enjoying certain aspects of being a public figure.
“I’m at the inception of my commercial Model Journey and I have so far worked with tremendous individuals that I have never imagined or thought I would, this leaves me with a huge amount of desire for the next step, which I find very interesting and inspiring as I can never prepare enough for the next moment.
“Safely put I’m learning to think while I run yet at the same time being grounded to the things that matter the most like family, my studies and building the career that I so far have envisioned.”
