22-year-old Fikile Cele from Chatsworth, Durban, was abandoned in a box outside a factory shortly after birth. She took to Facebook to speak her truth with hopes that her journey, and dreams to be the next Miss South Africa, will emphasise that no matter what, life can get better. 

Following her Miss SA entry video being shared on social media, however, bullies have taken their shot at the young hopeful for “not being Zulu enough.”

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Cele, who was raised in Chatsworth by adoptive parents, was slated for not being fluent in her mother tongue. In the mandatory Miss SA introduction video, the courageous Durbanite was criticised for not pronouncing the click in her surname correctly.

Cele’s inability to speak Zulu fluently is a result of having been raised by Indian parents. Her mother, Pamela Thomoya, found her when she was two months old outside a local factory. The only thing left alongside the abandoned infant in a box was a birth certificate bearing young Cele’s name (which she has retained.)

As a result of the harsh backlash, the potential Miss SA has been somewhat forced to share her personal life story on social media, just to silence the criticism.

“Some people were upset because of how I pronounced my surname. They accused me of not being ‘Zulu enough’ because I did not add the clicks in the right place,” she said this week.

“You feel rejected and you feel not good enough or not capable. But these things subside because there comes a time in your life where you realise that enough is enough and you want better for yourself.

“This whole experience made me realise my potential and boosted my confidence.”

Cele did express her desire to learn more about her Zulu heritage, stating that she wanted to spend time developing herself and her roots with friends.

“I do not fully speak or understand it. I believe that it can help me because I have a Zulu name, it’s my heritage.

“Although life turned out different for me, it won’t stop me from wanting to learn Zulu. I want to learn it because we live in a rainbow nation and the ability to hold conversations with different people is something I am passionate about.”

Word of the social media bulling towards Cele reached ncumbent Miss SA Shudufhadzo Musida, who told the Sunday Times:

“I wish we as people would be kinder to each other and more supportive of someone else’s dreams and ambitions. However, this isn’t always the case on social media and life in general.

“I cannot tell Fikile Cele or any of the other hopefuls entering Miss SA how to feel or act towards a social media backlash. However, I can share useful tips I have received from loved ones and professionals during Mindful Mondays that have helped me,” said Musida.

“Bullying is a reflection of the person doing it, not me — don’t take it personally. Comments and opinions, good or bad, should not have power over me. If it ever gets too much, seek help and don’t suffer in silence.”

Musida is passionate about mental health, addressing related issues regularly in her Mindful Mondays Instagram conversations.

In a time where the need for positivity and stories of hope are needed more than ever, why not focus on the perseverance of a young woman who worked her way up from being abandoned in a box, to fearlessly following her dreams, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Robyn Simpson.

Read also: 

Abandoned in a box as a baby to Miss SA dreams

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