“One of the Highlights of My Life,” Minnie Dlamini On Meeting Nelson Mandela As A 12 Year Old
“One of the Highlights of My Life,” Minnie Dlamini On Meeting Nelson Mandela As A 12 Year Old. Most people who have met presidents in their lifetime, regards the experience as one of the best in their lives. Having one invite you to spend time with you, must be such a mind blowing experience.
Minnie Dlamini can attest to this, as she has had the privilege of meeting our first democratic president, Nelson Mandela. The media personality, actress and entrepreneur is reminiscing on the day to mark Nelson Mandela Day, taking place today.
Back then, Minnie was aware that beauty queens were given the opportunity to meet uTata, so she worked hard until she won Little Miss South Africa. After her win, she, met former Mayor Obed Mlaba, and told him she wants to meet Mandela. The then Mayor, made arrangements and together with her late brother and mother Minnie was flown to Houghton. They got to meet and spend time with the former president.
Minnie regards this as one of the highlights of her life. She remembers how attentive Mandela was, and how he treated her like an equal. Seizing the opportunity, Minnie also told him her stories as well as how much he inspired her. She is holding on to this memory as its shows the determination she has always had, when chasing her dreams.
“Meeting uTata was one of the highlights of my life at just 12years old. I set a goal and I stopped at nothing to achieve it 🚀 I knew all the Miss South Africa and Little Miss South Africa winners always met him. So at 9 years old I started taking pageants seriously. I competed in every pageant I could find, I trained and worked on my walk, stage presence and of course my interview skills, until I won the title in 2002 💎 My final question on the night was, “if you were to meet Nelson Mandela, what would be the one question you would ask him?”
“After winning, I was honoured by the Mayor of Durban at an Excellence awards ceremony where I was the youngest ever recipient of The Mayor’s Award of Excellence for representing Durban and being the first Durbanite to win Little Miss South Africa. In meeting the then Mayor, Obed Mlaba, I jumped at the opportunity and told him I NEEDED to meet uTata Mandela. He told me to write a letter about my journey and he promised to make sure he would received it. Long story short, Nelson Mandela’s office reached out to my family and flew my younger brother, my mom and myself out to Houghton where I got to meet and spend time with him. I remember him being so attentive in conversation and told me many stories, he treated me like an equal and not a little kid, it was 🤯 I of course didn’t stop yapping and told all my stories as well as how much he inspired me. I then finally got to ask my winning question.“
“One day when I write my book will tell you all about it. For now that moment lives beautifully in my memory and heart. This is a story about determination and unshakeable drive, that I always bring to the fore whenever I feel like I can’t do something or my back is against the wall, I remember 12 year old Minnie who didn’t let ANYTHING deter her from reaching her dream 💎,” Minnie said.
