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Why did you feel the need to enter a reality
competition.
My entire being is paradoxical and that’s
something unique. Standing as “Anisa
Mazimpaka”, I know that I represent not just
myself but things like being female, African,
Muslim, Young, a comrade, a once suspended
student, a non-conformist to the system, a
graduate, an academic, a clumsy person and
those combinations are what’s authentically me
but individually represents different sectors of
the people of society. So going into the show I
knew that I had so much that I wanted to be
vocal about that represented the different parts
of me. I had led on campus within societies,
SRC, boardrooms, the streets during
#FeesMustFall and if having a national
platform on the stages of the SABC was a
chance given to me, then why not.
Can you take us back to the moment that they
announced you where the winner of the One Day
Leader SA.
I zoned out a bit because the hours leading up to
the show’s finale had been crazy hectic… not to
mention the few days prior to the finale. Our
families were invited to form part of the audience
for the live finale which didn’t quite make things
any easier – I remember moments before the
announcement of the results. I blocked everything
out because I couldn’t bear to disappoint my
parents who were right in front of me in studio as
well as the people watching from their homes and
campus, my family, friends, comrades and everyone
who believed in me and those I represented in
whichever form.
But going into the moment I think the reason I zoned out a bit was because I knew that if I had been crowned the
winner I’d have made history as the first ever female winner of the show, but moreover I knew that I would have
overcome my biggest competition - myself. Also, the finale fell a day after my parent’s 31 st wedding anniversary and for
the longest time I hadn’t known what the best gift to get them was, and here I was, standing on that podium able to do
just that, the comfort in knowing that they’re proud of me. It truly was overwhelming and I’m actually surprised that I
didn’t cry.
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@what_ladies_luv