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SU’s Akile Khoza competes for Miss SA crown
Author: Asiphe Nombewu/ Corporate Communication
Published: 24/05/2018

Twenty-three-year old Master's student in Neuroscience at Stellenbosch University (SU), Akile Khoza is one of the top 12 finalists in the annual Miss South Africa pageant to be held on Sunday (27 May 2018) The Mpumalanga brainy beauty will be competing against 11 other beauties from different parts of the country.

In a recent online question and answer session, she revealed her dream of inspiring young girls to chase their dreams. On the official Miss SA website, Akile was quoted as saying: “I want to be a vessel of hope and a symbol of beauty that transcends deeper than physical beauty."

She also mentioned that she spends most of her time doing research for her Master's degree.

 Akile added that her mother, who is also an SU alumna, is her role model.

“She started off as a housewife and raised three amazing kids. In seeing the journey of growth in her own kids, she wanted to be an example of hard-work and demonstrate the importance of pursing higher education, especially coming from a background of where many were denied this opportunity in the past. So she decided to go to school and study to become a teacher. She became more than a teacher that just teaches; she became an encourager, a caregiver and a mother to her students. She pursued her studies further and recently obtained her PHD degree at Stellenbosch University."

Like any proud Matie, Akile said Matie FM is her favourite radio station.

Speaking to Corporate Communication,  her supervisor Dr Theo Nell from the Department of Physiological Sciences described Akile as a very humble and hardworking student.

 “She has achieved so much over the years I have known her (undergraduate as well as post- graduate – since 2014-2018).  She is very ambitious, focussed and asks a lot of questions because of her curious mind," said Nell.

He added that she is a beautiful person on the inside and on the outside, kind caring and with a lot of empathy for people around her.

Nell said she made the absolute best choice of studying in Human Life Sciences (Psychology and Biology).

He said that when Akile told him about being in the top 12, he promised her that he would attend the pageant to show his support.

“I am positive she will be our next Queen!  She is such a go-getter!  Nothing will ever stop her from reaching her goals", he added.