Alicia
“Being a woman means that you are phenomenal. You are able to turn circumstances around just by your touch. Your presence is what overwhelms the darkness that possesses a room, and you make everything you touch turn into gold.”
Growing up, Alicia never had self-confidence. She experienced constant body shaming from her peers, whose ridicule made her feel like she had to change. But then she discovered pageantry. Through pageantry, Alicia has learned that all bodies are unique and there is no such thing as the “perfect" body. This has empowered her to find comfort in her own skin. Now as “Miss Teen Southern Africa 1st Princess 2022”, she is determined to follow in the footsteps of her role models and make waves in the modelling industry. Meet Alicia. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
A: I am Alicia Bhila, residing in Boksburg, Gauteng and I am a very enthusiastic person who loves to explore her capabilities.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
A: I'd say I'm a very artistic person.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
A: What I love about myself is that no matter the circumstances I always look for ways that will suit situations and I use my creativity to get out of problems.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
A: When I was younger and still attending primary school, I never felt confident in myself and I used to compare myself with other children. I never loved my body because of how everyone at school treated me. I always got comments everywhere I went such as, "you are so skinny", "they don't feed you at home", "you look like you have anorexia", and much more. I even wanted to gain weight at some point in my life. I felt like being skinny is not an ideal body.
I then took my direction into Pageantry where I learnt that there is no perfect body. I learnt my self confidence from there.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
A: Don't listen to what people say because they will drag you and your success down.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
A: Being a woman means that you are phenomenal. You are able to turn circumstances around just by your touch. Your presence is what overwhelms the darkness that possesses a room, and you make everything you touch turn into gold.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say if they were here now?
A: One woman other than my mom that inspires me is Aduta Akech, she is an international runway model that has decreased the stereotype around black girls in the modelling world.
If she were here I'd tell her that she has made me look at her journey in the industry and reflect it onto myself, and I've learnt to love my dark skin and view myself in a different perspective. I appreciate what she does and she gives me hope on succeeding in the industry.