There comes a time in every girl’s life when she wants to feel like Cinderella.
This princess moment came true for 17-year-old Weston High School learner Judiesha Shoshola at her matric ball. The journey started at the Christmas in July event hosted by Heavenly Haven Retreat when Ruth McPherson from the organisation received a number of vouchers and decided to do something truly worthwhile and make a matric girl’s dream come. “Hopefully this will be a memory she will always treasure,” she said. “One day God willing I hope she will do something equally special for someone when she herself eventually enters the great wide world.”
The vouchers, which included a photoshoot, make-up, dress and more was handed to Charmaine Laubscher, Deputy Mayor of the Saldanha Bay at the Christmas in July event, and she went in search of a deserving girl.
Dubbing it the “Cinderella Project”, Laubscher said everyone deserved to know they are beautiful and worthy to have this special moment in their lives. To make the moment even more special and memorable, Clayton Mnise, Mr SA 2023 finalist gave up his time to escort Judiesha to her matric ball. Mnise said he decided to leave everything and assist, because one only has your matric ball once.
According to Judiesha she thought she would never be able to experience this moment in her life due to her circumstances. “It truly felt like fairy godmothers were sent on my path and that I was a princess,” said Judiesha.
“When Clayton walked with me into the hall all eyes were on us. It felt like a dream became a reality and I received lots of compliments that evening, which boosted my confidence as well.”
Judiesha would like to thank every single person who made the evening possible, a night and journey she will never forget.