She was the first Mamelodi Sundowns Supporter to win the title of Miss Mamelodi Sundowns
“Being real is the cheapest thing a person can do for themselves; you do not need much to prove yourself that you can afford or you the best”, said Faith Nonyane. Faith Noyane was crowned Miss Mamelodi Sundowns at the age of 24 in 2019 after being the Miss Mamelodi Sudowns North West princess. Ofentse Pitso had an opportunity to interview the first ever queen to receive a farewell party from the supporters.
Q: how did your love for Sundowns and football start?
A: Growing up I was never allowed to watch certain television programmes but only news and sports. In 2010, when South Africa hosted the World Cup, my love for football just grew more.
I started falling in love with Sundowns in 2012 when Sundowns was playing with Powerlines FC and scored 24 goals. I then told myself that if they are capable to score so many goals, then I will definitely support such a team.
Q: What inspired you to go into modelling?
A: I was approached by some lady who used to host pageants at my high school. She volunteered to mentor me as she told me that I have a beautiful smile, body and face for modelling.
I never won some of my first pageants and it took me a while to eventually start winning but through faith, trust and not giving up, I was crowned Miss Mamelodi Sundowns.
“Not winning pageants used to affect my self-esteem and self-confidence.”
Q: Winning the crown of the team you grew up supporting, how does it feel?
A: “I still have the vivid memory of when Minnie Dlamini-Jones called out my name,” she said. It was one of her outstanding, biggest and precious moments of her life. Representing the team I grew up loving was amazing which I will never forget. I am still grateful for representing the team that I love.
Q: For one to be the finalist of Miss Mamelodi Sundowns she needs to be a provincial princess; how were you crowned Miss Mamelodi Sundowns North West princess as you from Limpopo and how was the journey?
A: I first entered at Limpopo and did not make it through, I then went to audition at North-West. Entering in a province which I was not from was a blessing in disguise as I had to pull up my socks and prove that I would be able to work in that province even though I was not from there.
I worked with different communities in the province and adopted a school where I assisted with stationaries and other resources they needed. I am also grateful to the Provide for Her Foundation team as they were helpful throughout my reign.
Q: When interviewing the reigning Queen, Kadija, she told us that you both have a great relationship. What words of encouragement would you share with her during her reign?
A: During my reign I also used to contact Thulani when I needed advises and assistance as I was her successor, and she always made sure that I am satisfied.
This is exactly what I am doing for Kadija. Advice to Kadija would be that, “enjoy yourself as the judges chose you because of your uniqueness, never try to be someone you are not, be yourself, have fun and enjoy your reign.
Never forget to spoil and pamper yourself. Your reign is only for a year therefore make sure that you get contacts which will be useful after the reign.”
Q: What do you think made you different from the previous queens as you are the first ever to receive a farewell party from the Gauteng South Supporters and how did that make you feel?
A: I would honestly be lying if I can be able to say what made me different from the other queens [laughing], I think I should change my name to “Morategi”, because of the love I received from the supporters, but I also love them.
I feel like it is because they know that I have always been a Sundowns fan for a long time and have seen me at the stadium several times and this has made it easy for them to relate to me.
The farewell party was honestly a surprise to me. I am grateful to the supporters that they are able to think of me that way and even think of throwing a whole farewell party for me and I also received so many gifts.
Q: What has been the best highlight as Miss Mamelodi Sundowns?
A: I honestly think that I had more fun when I handed over my crown than when I received it and the farewell party is one of the favourite experiences as the queen of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Q: Any grateful words to the supporters for always showing you love throughout your reign?
A: There are no words that can match the supporters love or the way I would want to appreciate them as it is too much. They have however been with me throughout my entire reign and made me feel like the queen that I am.
They have always been with me since from day 1 when I entered the competition and I should say, I enjoyed the farewell party. I am grateful to the entire Mamelodi Sundowns family for the love and support during my reign.
Q: How was the support from everyone after your accident?
A: Everyone was so supportive including The President of Mamelodi Sundowns, “Dr Patrice Motsepe”. When my hand was not working properly, a Doctor was organised for me as I did not have a car. I had a driver that used to drive me for my Doctor’s appointments. “In football we are like family, we may be like rivals when we on the pitch playing as we are competing however out of football we do not see each other as enemies” She said. I received so many messages and love from the football fans at large.
Q: What are you currently busy with?
A: Busy with my second degree in BCom and cannot wait to graduate [excited].
Q: Tell us more about your Non-profit organisation, “Provide for Her Foundation”, how did it start and where do you see it growing to?
A: “I am the product of my community and believe that I was raised by my community especially at church, we always received so much support on our dreams.” I believe that I need to pass that feeling I had growing up to the next generation. The foundation was initially started for a girl child as I believed that if you empower a girl child, you are empowering someone that is going to raise the world.
There is a saying that says, “When you are educating a woman, you are educating the entire world”, this is because the same knowledge you are giving to a girl child, she will go out there and educate others. Women are generally the care givers of the young, the old and the sick, when you are educating or empowering a woman, you are doing that to everyone surrounding her because as women we share and spread the love and care.
I feel that as a woman I need to raise a girl child and make them believe that they can achieve whatever they want to achieve what they want to achieve in life. I believe that a boy child also needs to be taught that as a man you need to respect a woman as we are seeing an increase in rape case and gender based violence statistics. But the question is who is there to raise a boy child, and speak to them on how to treat women?
I had promised to have a seminar last year for our brothers; I was unable to do this though because of the lockdown. It will be dedicated to our brothers to advice that we do love, support and teach them on how to treat young ladies, we should always keep in mind that we have male feminists supporting our movements and stand for women rights and equality, we need to also acknowledge them.
Q: Do you see yourself entering Miss SA again?
A: I do not think I will be entering the competition as I have many goals that I want to focus on and achieve. All of them require my time, hard work and also dedication.
Q: Who is your favourite player and why?
A: I honestly do not have a favourite from the ladies team as they are all my friends; I was given sisters by Sundowns. I am however very close to Lelona. I love all of them and it is hard to choose a favourite.
Q: What made you buy the book, “We should all be feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”?
A: I bought the book because of a friend of mine who is a feminist and is vocal about it. We were just chilling with her and they started talking about it that is when I decided to buy the book. It happens to be one of my favourite book. I read the book more than twice [smile].
Q: From the supporter’s song, which song is your favourite?
A: Ka bo Yellow
Q: You one of the very few people who are still themselves on social media. What motivates you to be like that and what advice would you give to young girls about being real on social media?
A: It is important to be real on social media; the young ones need to be taught that it is okay to take a picture without a weave or make-up. It is not like the celebrities they see every day eat the seafood they also share.
We do eat “malamogudu, menotwana le melala”, like any other people. I do wake up and drink rooibos tea with no milk and eat sweet potato, these are the things I grew up eating however the difference now is that I used to eat it because of poverty, today I eat it because of the memories it brings. They need to understand that at the end of the day you need to do something that makes you happy and just be real.
You should wake up one day and take a picture of yourself and just post, “Good morning people, I woke up like this and embrace your beauty.” Being real is the cheapest thing a person can do for themselves; you do not need much to prove yourself that you can afford or you the best. This is the reasons many people are told and taught at competitions that they need to be themselves, unique and be who you are.
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