- Gavaza Mongwe reflects on her 10-month journey to becoming one of the Top 5 finalists in Mrs South Africa 2026.
- Her journey inspired the launch of HER AGAIN, an annual gathering encouraging women to reconnect with their dreams.
- Despite not winning the crown, Mongwe says the experience strengthened her confidence, faith and commitment to empowering women and young professionals.
Exactly 10 months ago, I began the Mrs South Africa journey as a soft-spoken woman from Tzaneen with a big dream.
This week, I stood on the national stage as one of the Top 5. I did not come home with the crown. I came home with something I will carry for life.
An MBA of life
Mrs South Africa is an “MBA” of life. In the last 10 months, I learned to command a room, raise funds, build partnerships and share my story on radio and in newspapers.
I grew in confidence, courage and faith. I believe excellence honours God, so I gave every task my best. To the Mrs South Africa organisation, thank you for the opportunity. You do not only crown a queen; you grow women.
HER AGAIN
Through this journey, I launched my platform called HER AGAIN, a gathering where women return to their dreams. On 3 October 2026, in Kempton Park, the room was full, and Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng honoured us as our guest speaker as she unpacked the theme “Dream, Articulate and Pursue”.
The sisterhood was so real that HER AGAIN is now an annual event. In the room, I reminded the women, “Setbacks are not proof that we were wrong to dream.” Then we sat quietly and wrote down our dreams. That is how I reconnected with mine. Walking the Mrs South Africa journey was a dream I had held for a number of years. Writing it down gave it life.
Every woman left the event with a letter to her future self and a promise, “I promise to be her again.” In 2027, we will meet again to open those letters together. I can’t wait to see what the woman will have become.
Thank you
No woman walks a journey like this alone. To my gold and silver sponsors, MH Automotive Engineering, Giggles n Kurls – Midrand, Waxit Kyalami, The Aquatic Zone and Data Services Agency, you believed in me when this was only a vision on paper. I will remain forever grateful.
To Hope Alive and Sauma radio stations, thank you for carrying my story all the way home to Tzaneen. And a special thank you to Conviction.co.za for sharing my journey throughout the last 10 months.
To ACE Models, AMR Studio, 3StepGroup, TheDivineStyle, BeautyByBelarosa and Career and Corporate Hub, thank you for standing with me and supporting this journey every step of the way.
To the AIDC and Tshwane University of Technology, thank you for letting me speak to women in the automotive industry and to young engineers preparing for the world of work. My heart for young professionals is why I wrote Take the Lead, a 90-day career journal to help them lead their own careers.
To my community, everyone who bought a ticket, voted, shared a post or prayed, you carried me. To my husband and our children, your pride in me is my greatest prize. Above all, I thank God. The Word of God says in Habakkuk, “Write the vision and make it plain.” I wrote it, and He was faithful to every line. I trust Him with the next chapter.
A new chapter
The end of this journey is the beginning of a new chapter. HER AGAIN returns in 2027, and the Take the Lead journal will keep reaching young professionals. This work does not need a crown. It needs a woman who keeps showing up.
To every woman who still doubts her dream, you have the potential to achieve everything you set your mind to. A dream you can articulate is a dream you can pursue.
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The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Conviction.co.za
