The 26-year-old fashion graduate hails from Oskraal, Letlhabile in the North West and works as a model booker at Invade Models and is the founder and owner of the DeMollies fashion brand. In her spare time, she volunteers at a local LGBTQIA+ centre, helping young people complete university and job applications.
We got in touch with the inspiring Machaba to chat making history, beauty pageants and championing LGBTQIA+ rights.
It was so surreal, it truly felt like a dream. I’m still getting used to it and the response from the public has made it even more exciting as I never thought anyone would respond to my being part of the top 30 like they did. And being the first trans woman to have made it this far in the contest ever gives me hope that we're moving in the right direction as a nation.
We have a very long way to go as a nation to a point where everyone can be fully themselves without fear of being judged. This is a great leap by the Miss SA organisation and it truly does contribute to some level of acceptance and the idea of people knowing that we do exist and that we are all beautiful and are as many women as any other type of woman. And that the LGBTQIA+ community also deserves to live without fear of being murdered or discriminated against just live everyone.
I am proud to announce that I have OFFICIALLY made it to the #Top30 of #MissSA2021 thanks to all of you. This journey has been nothing but a great one and all of you have made this worthwhile. I am the first ever TRANSWOMAN to make it to top 30 and promise to advocate. pic.twitter.com/wehzid3wuK
— IG: @Lehlogonolo.Machaba (@De_Lehlogonolo) July 6, 2021
I would hope to use this platform to continue advocating for my community. To raise awareness on the ongoing murders of people in the LGBTQIA+ community and ostracisation we live with on a daily basis. My hope for this country is for the killings to stop and I believe that by educating, advocating and having people like me at the forefront as a form of representation, regular folk will get used to the fact that we exist and hopefully start treating us with the respect we all deserve.
There should be bills that advocate strongly against anti-LGBTQIA+ murders and hate crimes. There should be more representation in the media rather than cis-gay men.
Take your time, get help, find organisations like OUT and get as much information as possible.
My mother is a great inspiration to me. She has been through a lot and always found a way to rise up and provide for us as a single parent. Also transgender actress and activist Laverne Cox – who continues to break the glass ceiling, having been the first transgender woman of colour to achieve many accolades and has stood her ground through all the hate.
I’m very good at cooking; the kitchen is my happy place.
The pageant will take place on Saturday, 16 October at Grand West Arena in Cape Town and be simulcast live on M-Net (DStv 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) at 17:00. It will also be live-streamed on the My DStv app.
International audiences tune in via the online platform at misssa.live.