Bio
Dipalesa Mbola is a South African model best known for being one of the Top 12 finalists in the 2014 Miss South Africa pageant.
Miss SA Q&A
Region
Phase 3, Bloemfontein, Free State
Age
22
Occupation
I am a student doing Honours in Business Management. I graduated with a B Comm marketing degree. I am also a lecturer's assistant in the business management department. I help with marking test scripts and assignments.
Previous beauty competitions/pageants won
I started doing pageants at the age of seven. I have been crowned Miss Phase 3 (where I live), Miss Valentine, Miss Tiger football club and Miss Atlehang (my high school).
I was crowned first princess for Miss Matric and this is where I received a valuable lesson from my class teacher. He told me that I had participated and won numerous beauty pageants and it had gone to my head. He said that with every new pageant, I should treat it as my first and that I should always work harder than the previous times. I must bear in mind that stars are born every day and if I didn't continue to hone my craft, someone else would take the spot.
I took his advice to heart and I was crowned Miss Lekoko (local radio station), and Miss Mamelodi Sundowns FS (where I was placed in the top 5 at the national level in Gauteng) and Miss Orlando Pirates BFN.
What lessons did you learn during The Road to Miss SA TV shoot at Sun City?
I have learned about the importance of dedicating yourself to your dream and working each and every day to achieve it.
I learned the importance of time management, the schedule involved so many people and in order for the targets to be reached for each day, each person had to commit to getting to a specified destination at a specified time or else everything was going to have to bed pushed back and I am really proud of myself for committing to that and making sure that I was on time because time management had always been one of my biggest issues.
I learned about the importance of letting go and letting others help.
What were the highlights of your Sun City stay?
I enjoyed waking up early after having a late night and getting to the reception area and watching the girls arrive on time. We would all be so tired from the previous night but there would be a great sense of appreciation for the position we were in and we were looking forward to the day's events.
It was very special to see how everyone was so passionate about their field of work, the production crew, the makeup artists, the hairdressers, and the stylist. They made me feel blessed as if I was with my own family.
My second highlight was definitely seeing presenter Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp and having her tell us about the challenge. It was always in a riddle and trying to figure out what she meant was always hilarious because we would all come up with our different theories.
Why do you want to be Miss SA and what do you think you will be able to bring to the role?
I believe I can use the bigger platform to change lives. I feel that I have really spread my wings in my province and have touched lives and created a name for myself in my own small and unique way.
I want to be Miss South Africa because I have what it takes. I am a loving person, I love helping people, I am passionate about youth development, I can relate to many people, I am approachable, I am a great listener, but above all, I have a great story to tell. I can inspire others.
Who is a previous Miss SA who has inspired you?
I believe all the Miss SA's that have been crowned are amazing women, and I'd be honoured if my name would be put up with the rest of them as Miss South Africa 2014. However, I would choose Joan Ramagoshi. She is very assertive, she can make decisions, she can be tough and at the same time she is very warm and loving.
Who are your role models?
My late mom; she was a wonderful and humble soul. She raised me by herself after my father passed away and life was wonderful for me. I always knew that we were not rich, she worked as a domestic worker but there is not one moment growing up where I felt that I was poor. She carried the world on her shoulders and was always grateful for what she had.
Tell us a bit more about your family?
My mother and father are both deceased. My father worked as a truck driver, he passed away in 1997 and my mother worked as a domestic worker and she passed away in February this year. I have a half-sister from my father's side.
What do you do in your spare time?
I do love spending quality time with friends. I love modelling, I love doing hair for friends as well as make up.
2014 is the year in which SA celebrates its 20th year of democracy – what does that mean to you?
It means that we have made progress. We should celebrate the present and the future and not dwell on the past. I am not saying it should be forgotten, but I what I am saying is that we can look back and look at where we are today and really rejoice in how far our country has come from where it was.
What is your message to young girls and young women in South Africa?
Do not be afraid! The world is one big pie and you deserve your piece, do not be afraid to get it, and do not be ashamed to want it. You are worth more than you think.
What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I am a breadwinner in my house.
What are you reading?
From Jesus with Love
What is on your iPod?
Beyoncé, Hillsong, Toni Braxton, John Legend and many more
Your favourite TV show?
Ellen DeGeneres, America's Next Top Model, Top Billing, V- Entertainment
Your favourite meal?
Ribs