Beauty princess Mathabo Matlou continues to wave the South African flag high as she prepares to represent the nation at the New York Fashion Week runway.
Matlou has been selected to model for the local brand called Built by Stacy at the international fashion show in September.
This comes shortly after she was crowned International Girl Teen 2023 in New York.
The 17-year-old model from Benoni, east of Johannesburg said she feels blessed to be on the stage that was once walked by world-renowned models including Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima and Gigi Hadid, among others.
Matlou said she did not expect her dreams as an eight-year-old of travelling out of South Africa, as she follows her passion would come true even before she completed high school.
She has had a special meal preparation with Chef Nkosi, a chef for eight years to former president Nelson Mandela, in celebration of her work, and this put an emphasis on her dreams.
“At the International Girl Pageant, there were a few optionals. The optional competition that I decided to enter was the Top Model optional,” she said.
“I ended up winning the Top Model section as well, and so part of the prize was to go to New York Fashion Week.
“I am not just going to the New York Fashion Week with hopes of experiencing it, but rather going there and hoping to impress different designers and agents. I want to be discovered.
“I want this opportunity to be a first step in my modelling career because most of my life I have been busy with pageantry. I want to be the epitome of ‘beauty and brains’.
The teenage star stands as the Always sanitary towels ambassador, works hand-in-hand with Footprints Foundation, and has further involvement in Pad A Girl organisation collecting sanitary towels to be donated to a girl child.
Matlou hopes to wear the Miss South Africa crown one day, use the platform to cultivate change, and become a lawyer to serve as the voice to many people.
“As I am still in school doing my grade 11, after matric I want to study law so I can use my voice in defence of others, in a formal and informal way.
“I just want to let each and everyone know that they can also reach their dreams in foreign land.
“South Africans should not just limit themselves to the boarders of South Africa, but rather look further into the world,” said Matlou.
Matlou is expected to leave for New York on September 5.
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