By Asnath Morethe
The 2021/22 Miss Albinism SA activist has been nominated for the face of Black Entertainment Awards(BEA) by Black Community Radio (BCR).
Sasekani Masingi (24) from Mbhalati village outside Malamulele in Limpopo was nominated on December 27, 2021, along with other five nominees for the face of BEA.
She told ThisAbility that she feels honored to have been nominated, “This is a big deal for me honestly. To be nominated for the face of BEA is not just an award, but it is also Black Community Radio feeling like I can be the face of their radio station.”
Black Entertainment Awards is an initiative by Black Community Radio, an online radio station that aims to create balance between the known (celebrated) and the unknown (aspiring creatives and ready to take the up the industry.
BEA is looking for life changers, the brave and face to take the brand to the world at large. The initiative recognizesyoung and talented people in South Africa and uplift new businesses through advertising and marketing.
Masingi who is a lesbian woman with albinism hopes to change the narrative and perceptions about people with albinism and the LGBTQIA+ community, “I have always dreamed to change the narrative about the stigmas and myths around albinism and the LGBTIQA+ community. Being the face of BEA will give me the platform to educate people about the above mentioned.”
Masingi is the former chairperson of UL Rainbow, a support structure for LGBTQIA+ at University of Limpopo where she is completing her honors degree in translation, interpreting and linguistics.
Back in high school at Filadelfia Secondary in Soshanguve, Masingi won the title of Miss Valentine 2013/14 and in July 2021, she made a brief appearance as a model on a reality TV show Born Legend on SABC 1.
Eshdey Diphae, the founder of BEA told ThisAbility that,“Sasekani is a life changer and beauty with brains kind of person. The industry needs people like her. She represents the ostracized in the society. Albinism and LGBTIQ has always been ostracized.”
“BEA is an internationally acclaimed platform. We will have workshops and opportunities to be announced along the journey. It is a prestigious platform that will open doors for someone who will be representing the brand, face of BEA,” she added.
BEA also offers awards in the following categories: best author, best book, best brand, best hit song, best journalist and many more.
Lerato Ramathibela (38) who won best brand 2019 andagain nominated for best brand 2022 said, “BEA has given my brand “Ratavaslap” more exposure through social media and mostly advertising and marketing.”
People can vote for Masingi to win the face of BEA by sending an SMS to BEA N4 to 40439. SMS cost R2 and free SMSs do not apply.