Story by Waaqiah Jaffer
Driven by her passion for working with people, Phemelo London, a 20-year-old university student who was crowned Miss Kimberley 2022, continues to make her city proud.
London was born and raised in Galeshewe, is the youngest of six siblings.
She started schooling at Progress Primary School, then proceeded to St. Boniface High School, where she was the head girl in 2020. She enjoyed debate and public speaking, these activities gave her confidence. “I traveled to Cape Town and Johannesburg through debate”, she said.
Her passion for public speaking gave her the confidence to start her “Presidential Mondays” show on Instagram TV.
In 2021 she pursued her studies in Law in Grahamstown at Rhodes University. London played hockey for the university but suffered a metatarsal injury. The Doctor ordered her to be on bed rest. Therefore she was unable to continue with her studies.
London came back home. However, this minor setback did not deter her. London enrolled at Sol Plaatje University in 2023 for a bachelor’s degree in education.
“After completing my degree in Education, I intend on returning to Rhodes University to complete my triple major in Law, Politics and History,” said a resilient Phemelo.
“I also work at Remax, a real estate agency, as a candidate property practitioner, where I buy and sell properties”, she added.
Due to the pandemic, auditions for Miss Kimberley were conducted online. The question that qualified a contestant entry into the finals was, “How do you define beauty?”
London indicated that in preparation for the competition, workshops and rehearsals were held at the Northern Cape Theatre. “I entered the pageant without my parent’s knowledge. Therefore, did not tell them about my entrance into the competition because they are used to me participating in debate and public speaking. Even when the news broke on social media, I was still hesitant to share it with them. When members of our church started congratulating me, I decided to let the cat out of the bag.” She said her parents, Johannes and Joyce London, were incredibly proud of her and accompanied their baby girl to the crowning ceremony.
In 2020 London registered London Leaders, a non-profit organisation funded by herself and her followers.
London Leaders assists children from Lerato Place of Safety, Child Welfare SA, Boipelo Orphanage, Boitumelo Special School and Retlameleng School for Special Needs with food, clothing and sanitary towels.
London can be reached on Instagram at “London_for_president” and on Facebook at “Phemelo Katalia London.” In addition, she encourages young aspiring beauty queens, “Just do it for a purpose bigger than yourself. Strive to serve others.”
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