BUTTERWORTH model Onke Mabude is a step closer to living his dream after making it into the top 50 of the Mr South Africa pageant.
Unlike Miss SA, Mr SA is not owned by Sun International but a private entity.
Mabude, 28, who started modeling about three years ago, wants to take the Mr SA title from 2013 winner John Owen.
Mabude’s big break came in 2011, when he made it to the top 15 of then Clio magazine’s bachelor of the year competition. In 2012 he was featured in Men’s Health magazine, and was a Heat magazine’s Heat Men finalist.
Last year he represented Peroni alcohol beverages in their national print and still ad campaign.
“This year I decided I want something different and I entered Mr SA. It is different from the shows I’ve done before.
“It is not about looks and popularity but rather your personality,” he said.
Mr SA’s Rudi Baker said the process took about 10 months, during which contestants went through tasks and challenges to assess their abilities and character. One of the challenges was to raise funds for a charity, and only 34 contestants, including Mabude, managed to raise R282000. Their current challenge is to market the Mr SA brand. “Coming from humble beginnings with not so many opportunities but being able to come this far, I believe I can inspire children from disadvantaged communities,” he said.
The former Msobomvu Senior Secondary School pupil is now studying for an honours degree in marketing management in Johannesburg.
“I have the potential to compete against people who have different backgrounds to me. I was not raised in this environment but I took that challenge and embraced being a model.”
The final night of Mr SA will be in Gauteng later this year. The show’s top 25 is expected to be announced later this month.
Baker said the tasks and challenges were crucial in determining the most deserving winner. The final of Mr South Africa is to be broadcast again this year by e.tv in December.
The reality show will consist of 13 episodes in which the semi-finalists will be given challenges to overcome.
Each week one contestant will be eliminated at the end of the episode.
- To vote Mabude into the top 25, sms MRSA 072 to 47439. Messages cost R3. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
Male model eyes Mr SA reality show
Unlike Miss SA, Mr SA is not owned by Sun International but a private entity.
Mabude, 28, who started modeling about three years ago, wants to take the Mr SA title from 2013 winner John Owen.
Mabude’s big break came in 2011, when he made it to the top 15 of then Clio magazine’s bachelor of the year competition. In 2012 he was featured in Men’s Health magazine, and was a Heat magazine’s Heat Men finalist.
Last year he represented Peroni alcohol beverages in their national print and still ad campaign.
“This year I decided I want something different and I entered Mr SA. It is different from the shows I’ve done before.
“It is not about looks and popularity but rather your personality,” he said.
Mr SA’s Rudi Baker said the process took about 10 months, during which contestants went through tasks and challenges to assess their abilities and character. One of the challenges was to raise funds for a charity, and only 34 contestants, including Mabude, managed to raise R282000. Their current challenge is to market the Mr SA brand. “Coming from humble beginnings with not so many opportunities but being able to come this far, I believe I can inspire children from disadvantaged communities,” he said.
The former Msobomvu Senior Secondary School pupil is now studying for an honours degree in marketing management in Johannesburg.
“I have the potential to compete against people who have different backgrounds to me. I was not raised in this environment but I took that challenge and embraced being a model.”
The final night of Mr SA will be in Gauteng later this year. The show’s top 25 is expected to be announced later this month.
Baker said the tasks and challenges were crucial in determining the most deserving winner. The final of Mr South Africa is to be broadcast again this year by e.tv in December.
The reality show will consist of 13 episodes in which the semi-finalists will be given challenges to overcome.
Each week one contestant will be eliminated at the end of the episode.
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