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25 May 2018 Photo Supplied
Kovsies back Margo as Miss SA Top-12 finalist
#MargoForMissSA

Co-director of the non-profit organisation A&M Foundation, hair influencer at Shea Moisture South Africa, part-time teacher and mentor, Margo Fargo said: “I come from a community and background that doesn’t necessarily have all the resources and opportunities for me to be in this position, but that gives me hope, and I have faith that it will encourage someone to believe that it is possible to achieve what you set your mind to, and work for it despite the circumstances.”

Kovsie’s very own Margo Fargo strikes the iron while it’s hot, as she competes in the Miss South Africa Beauty Pageant as a top-12 finalist.

UFS alumni have developed a knack for achieving admirable accomplishments, and Fargo is standing by to take the flight to new heights.

When asked what makes her stand out, the BSc Consumer Sciences honours graduate replied, “My story; no two contestants are the same physically and intellectually, we are all so different and the fact that I am myself sets me apart.”

Fargo believes that Miss South Africa needs to be a leader in countless ways, having a formidable but teachable spirit to continually grow through encounters and experiences. She feels that the candidate should be unapologetic for who she is and be strong-willed, as she represents many people as well as an entire nation. Fargo strongly believes that the Miss South Africa Beauty Pageant is an important institute in the country, as it aids women with characteristic traits and mechanisms that enable them to make a visible and worthy difference in their communities.

“I come from a community and background
that doesn’t necessarily have all the
resources and opportunities for me
to be in this position, but that gives
me hope, and I have faith that
it will motivate someone else
to believe that it is possible
to achieve what, you set
your mind to, and work for it
despite the circumstances.”
—Margo Fargo

The 25-year-old from Heidedal, Bloemfontein, explained that breaking into the pageant industry made her feel like a fish out of water. Fargo found great difficulty throughout the journey to this point in her life; however, she stressed that the rejection she was subjected to was brutal but very much needed, as it has given her a thick skin. She also emphasised the honour it was to be associated with an organisation of the calibre of the Miss South Africa Beauty Pageant.

Fargo dreams of herself as a well-established brand, with her own businesses, doing compelling work that creates sustainable jobs in industries including wellness, entertainment, and working with people. She concluded by saying, “We need each other, for we are stronger together.” The university is proud to count Fargo among its alumni, and the Kovsie community wishes her all the best in this adventure.

News Archive

Active citizenship key to building healthier communities
2014-09-22

Photo: Mamosa Makaya

The Office of Community Engagement in collaboration with Bloem Shelter, hosted a three-day Indaba on active citizenship. The focus of the event was to engage local government leaders, NGOs and social services groups on creating a society that is healthier, safer and more informed.

The over-arching theme of the Indaba centred on the strengthening of family structures, social and health service delivery, spiritual healing and counselling. Amongst the various speakers was Rev Jennifer Samdaan, Minister in the Methodist Church and community activist. During her presentation, ‘Youth, Women and Children at Risk in South Africa', she highlighted the challenges that women and youth in townships and rural areas deal with in their daily lives. One example is physical and sexual violence while commuting to school and work. Rev Samdaan’s organisation has been instrumental in engaging municipal authorities in the region of Kokstad to provide security and lighting on roads where women are most vulnerable to violent attacks as they commute from work.

Community workers discussed their contributions in the fields of marital and family counselling and mental health support services. They discussed the benefits of their collaboration with local judicial bodies and other community leaders to render services to victims of domestic violence.

Rev Billyboy Ramahlele, Director in the Office of Community Engagement, emphasised the role of leadership and the responsibility of political leaders and citizens alike to ensure accountability in the quest to build a healthier society.

Vanessa Booysen, a neonatal consultant for Newborn Care in South Africa, demonstrated the importance of bonding between mothers and their babies. She called attention to the negative effects on the development of babies when separated from their mothers and the future challenges this causes. Modern medicine also leads to fewer women giving birth naturally. Booysen stressed that "it matters how we are born". She encouraged health practitioners to go back to basics in maternal care to lessen the negative effects that pass onto children into adulthood.

The workshop concluded with an exhibition by various groups that showcased the information resources and services offered to communities in the Free State.

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