By Ncamiso Dlamini
A 19 year old from Eden Park is turning her pageant wins into a powerful force for change, proving that tiaras aren’t just for show. Keesha Williams, who walked away as the overall Miss Class of SA 2024 winner and is now a semi finalist for Miss Face of Gauteng 2025, is on a mission to uplift women and girls across South Africa, starting right in her community.
Keesha’s journey was not always glamorous. She openly shares how she once struggled with deep insecurities and self-doubt. Seeing her mother face abuse and wrestling with her own confidence lit a fire in her. “I told myself I wanted to be the voice for those who see something wrong with themselves,” Keesha explained in a recent chat. “Society doesn’t define your worth, you do.” This tough past fuels her passion for helping others see their own strength.
For Keesha, pageantry is not about the glitz. “Many think once you get the crown, the hard work is done. But it’s not just walking on stage,” she says. “It’s about putting in the hard yards to actually make a difference.” That’s why she chose Miss Face of Gauteng its strong focus on women’s empowerment matches her own heart perfectly.
Her main project right now is her “Unscripted and Unstoppable” campaign, running for five days. It tackles big issues like breaking stereotypes, building self-confidence, overcoming life’s knocks, the power of women supporting each other, and learning to love yourself. “Beauty isn’t just outside,” Keesha says firmly. “For me, real beauty is inner confidence, accepting who you are, and being kind.”
But Keesha isn’t stopping at a campaign. As a Miss Face of Gauteng semi-finalist, she’s got big plans for Gauteng:
* Volunteering with groups that help women.
* Running workshops where girls can share stories and build each other up.
* Organising soup drives, sanitary pad collections, and clothing donations.
* Hosting an “Unscripted and Unstoppable” webinar to help women find their voice and squash self doubt.
Looking further ahead, Keesha dreams of starting her own non profit, also called “Unscripted and Unstoppable”. She sees a huge gap in support for women, especially when it comes to the scary reality of gender based violence (GBV) in South Africa. “Women are going missing and being killed at an alarming rate. It creates so much fear,” she states. Her NPO would fight GBV through awareness, helping survivors, pushing for better laws, creating safe spaces, and teaching vital skills.
If she had all the resources needed, her first big project would be “Rise Up” offering women mentorship, training in things like managing money and starting businesses, and building strong community support networks, especially reaching women in rural areas.Keesha credits her mother for teaching her the values of kindness and helping others the spirit of Ubuntu. Simple acts, like handing out soup or spending time with kids at an orphanage, remind her why this work matters. “Seeing those smiles… it shows even a little bit helps,” she shared.
Her hope for the future? “In ten years, I want people to hear ‘Keesha Williams’ and think of impact, empowerment, and lifting others up,” she says with a determined smile. “I want to be remembered as the girl who lived Ubuntu, who kept smiling through challenges, and who helped women feel unstoppable.”
Keesha is calling on everyone who wants to make a difference to join her. “Let’s build a community,” she urges. You can connect with her journey on
-Facebook (Keesha Williams)
-Instagram(@_keesha_williams)
-TikTok (@keesha_williams).
This Eden Park teen is showing that with heart and hustle, you can use any platform, even a pageant stage, to help rewrite the future for women in South Africa.
