Siblings Kayla and Celita Jenecker (22) from Mitchell’s Plain were bullied as learners.
However, they turned their pain into purpose.
The pair started #42_Unbreakable, a non-profit organisation (NPO), to tackle bullying across schools in the Western Cape.
On Saturday 9 November, they hosted their first beauty pageant with a difference, Miss Mitchell’s Plain Unbreakable Beauty Pageant.
Kayla (25) is the founder of the pageant. “I am also one of the directors of the NPO. My sister Celita is the CEO and my mother Barbara (42) is also the director. This NPO is an anti-bullying campaign, where we raise awareness around schools in the Western Cape. My sister and I were bullied at school, but we turned our pain into purpose,” Kayla says.
The reason behind #42_Unbreakable is the 42 learners in her class who bullied her for three years.
“For the past six years, we’ve been running this NPO out of our pockets as we had no sponsors. I decided to start the beauty pageant to raise funds for our anti-bullying campaign. As a young girl, I’ve always loved pageants and watched Miss South Africa and Miss Universe on television.
“I loved and still love beauty pageants and entered the Miss SA pageants in 2021 and 2022, but unfortunately never advanced to the top 30 in both years. Because of not making the top 30, I used it as fuel and it motivated me to host a pageant in Mitchell’s Plain because I am proud to be from Mitchell’s Plain,” Kayla says.
When she walks in the streets of Mitchell’s Plain she sees gorgeous females.
“We have beauty and brains, potential and grit. My pageant is not your traditional pageant. We wanted young girls in all forms and shapes to empower them. Fundamentally, we also wanted to change the way women are viewed in society.
“Young girls are being body-shamed in schools. Our vision is to break the cycle of how women are viewed in society. The majority of the contestants who entered the recently held pageant were bullied at school. Sadly, some are still experiencing bullying. There is a lot of work to be done, but sadly bullying is still evident in schools around the Western Cape and the rest of South Africa, as well,” she says.
Kayla calls on small, medium and corporate companies to collaborate and partner with her NPO financially and help to eradicate bullying by implementing anti-bullying initiatives in schools. “Our pageant was viewed as a success. We received sponsorships from local businesses in Mitchell’s Plain.
Shaqeel Dareis, the co-founder of The Party Shop and Plastic in Town Centre, believes in the pair. He sponsored all the winners with balloons. He also sponsored a decorated stage featuring a balloon arch.
“We also received hair, nail and food vouchers from businesses,” Kayla says.
Entertainment was provided by CGJ, the female rapper who was a contestant on the TV programme Maak my Famous. TikTok’s famous dance group Street Kings from Tafelsig and Brandon the Singer.
“We are so proud of all our contestants. They are all winners without the crown. Some were very scared and timid when they entered, but that changed because they are now bold and courageous. They are ready to face and change the world. They are now ready to walk in their God-given purpose, to raise voices and take a stand against bullying,” she says.
Kayla hopes to appear on a television programme and is looking forward to hosting the next beauty pageant next year.
