Navigating an Autism diagnosis can feel like a lonely journey, but our reigning Miss SA, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, is using her platform to ensure families don’t have to walk it alone.
Johannesburg, South Africa (07 April 2026) – April is Autism Acceptance Month. It is a month dedicated to celebrating neurodiversity, understanding the strengths and honouring the challenges faced by those on the spectrum.
Having received numerous messages from families seeking guidance on how to access support for their children, our reigning Miss South Africa, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, is using her platform to help others navigate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Far more than just a pageant queen who wears our national crown, Qhawekazi is also a qualified speech therapist, educational activist and a self-published children’s author and a Master’s student in speech pathology, specialising her research in the field of autism.
“What I love most about this month is that the name has been changed from ‘Autism Awareness Month’ to ‘Autism Acceptance Month’, which moves towards genuine acceptance and support for autistic children and adults,” Qhawekazi shares in a recent post.
She recognises that our country still has a very long way to go in terms of ASD information availability, partially because of cultural differences, which result in taboos.
“So many children remain isolated or undiagnosed because their behaviour is viewed as difficult due to misinformation. I want to use this community to make a difference where we can.”
Qhawekazi will now be using her social media platforms to launch a four-part series covering how to get an autism diagnosis, getting support systems like speech or occupational therapy, communication tips and advice on how to navigate the public schooling system for children who are diagnosed with autism.
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She’s also open to answering further questions on the topic, inviting her followers to respond with their questions in the comments section or DMing her.
“I will try to include the answers in each of the videos that I make. If I personally can’t answer it, I will make sure to either do research or try to get in contact with a clinician. Please let me know any specific information you might want to know as well. There is no one-size approach to supporting neurodiverse children, but I really hope this series will help a family navigating their journey.”
Beyond the crown lies a heart dedicated to every child’s voice. Her post has received love and earned respect from her online audience and, more touching, brought hope to those navigating a widely misunderstood journey.
As Qhawekazi puts it, one of the best ways to make information available is to start the conversation. We applaud her for using her platform for such a remarkable source of help and a force for good.
Sources: Qhawekazi Mazaleni
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