The radiant and down to earth beauty queen who hails from Alberton was officially given the accolade at The Maslow, in Sandton, Johannesburg on Wednesday this week.
Sasha assumed the Miss South 2019 mantle from Zozibini Tunzi who is currently enjoying basking in the success of Miss Universe in the Big Apple. As a result, though, Zozibini had to vacate the Miss South Africa office and hand over the reins to Sasha Lee who is will now be fulfilling all of Miss SA's duties and her obligations to the organisation's sponsors.
Sasha said she is thrilled to be the new Miss SA and she is ready to fill in the big shoes of her title. Speaking to Zalebs yesterday the beauty queen hailed Zozibini for being a fearless, intellectual and grounded woman who is representing SA Women's beauty in all skin tones and hair textures.
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“I m so excited for her, the Universe needed someone like her and I’m proud that she is able to hold this position right now because it important that we no longer function in parameters of what everyone expects of us and that we show up and challenge these constructs of what everyone thought beauty is and we show them that it is much broader than it is,” said Miss SA.
Sasha said Zozibini will represent the country well in the Miss Universe and not only SA but people who have been looked upon as the minority. The Miss Sa Titleholder who is blessed with both beauty and brains is a teacher by trade, she said her ambitions are to impact the lives of women and children in the country amid femicide and sexual abuse cases.
As a sexual abuse survivor, Sasha intends to continue to devote her time to tackle all sexual abuse predicaments endured by women in the country. '' I have one year and that means I’m going to be honing on one thing being sexual violence not only given the fact that it is a crisis but it is important that I focus on that but it doesn’t mean I won’t lend my voice in different initiatives.’’
Sasha launched a campaign #Itsnotyourfault which aims to raise R1.2 million for rape comfort kits which can be distributed at police stations, hospitals, and rape crisis centers. So far R10 000 has been donated by various individuals and companies.
The purpose of her campaign to serve as a beacon of hope and inspire millions of girls, boys, women, and men who have survived sexual abuse. She explained that the campaign aims to change victim-blaming attitudes as victims tend to blame themselves for sexual violence.
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The Miss SA said she will do all the best she can to make a positive difference in the country “We are multifaceted as individuals, I’m someone who is an assistant teacher I can tell you about education and issues regarding that and the current system we have not only in SA but I feel like it is important that we focus on one thing at a time and try to get that to a place where it’s completely of its feet.
She further stated that she aims to leave a great legacy behind her. ‘’My message for SA the legacy I would like to leave is of far-reaching and meaningful something that we can’t quantify because it is evident in all the lives we touch what I want to leave behind is the idea that there’s nothing impossible in this world and the idea that is most important that our darkest moments can birth our brightest.’’
Sasha draws her strength and inspiration from her supportive mother who raided her as a single parent, she said is excited to make her proud.
