OUDTSHOORN NEWS - Thirteen-year-old Lethabo Sekgobela, a Grade 7 learner at Van Reede School in Oudtshoorn, has been named the only Western Cape finalist in the Miss Pre Teen Universe South Africa 2026 competition.
The national pageant will take place on 22 March 2026 in Polokwane.
The Miss Teen Universe platform is part of a broader initiative to empower young girls, designed to nurture them through pageantry, the arts, and culture.
Contestants benefit from grooming opportunities, social and personal development, and life skills training through charity galas, workshops, community outreach, youth development programmes, and team-building activities.
Lethabo, described as humble yet determined, says she is motivated by her mother’s advice: “I want to inspire women, and my mother taught me that you should let no one stand in the way of your dreams.”
Her interests extend beyond pageantry, as she is an avid sports enthusiast, playing soccer for Alpha FC Infantry School as well as netball. “I love fashion, and charity is very close to my heart. I believe in making a difference by setting a good example.
Always know your worth, know you are unique, and be unapologetically yourself,” she says.
While her immediate focus is on her role in pageantry and charity work, Lethabo also has her sights set on a career in medicine, aspiring to become a pediatrician.
Charity remains a cornerstone of the Miss Teen Universe SA programme, and as part of her journey, Lethabo will also compete in the Western Province Miss Teen 2025 pageant, scheduled for 27 October in Cape Town.
Miss Teen Universe South Africa are international public figures, given the opportunity to represent South Africa at the Big 5 teen peagants across the world inlcuding Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Charm and Miss Global.
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