SKY Girls on the move
Spira Tlhankane | Friday February 12, 2016 12:48
The two teenagers, Whitney Letlhogela, 15, and Katlego Paakanyo, 18, were recently announced as the winners of the SKY Girls BW’s presenter search, which took place over the festive season. They had already presented in five shows and their contract would run for six months.
Thousands of SKY Girls and SKY Guys voted for their favourite presenters, and Katlego and Whitney were chosen as overall winners from more than 200 teens who applied for the positions. They will join SKY representative, Gaone Manatong, and RB2 presenter winner Rosina as anchors.
SKY stands for ‘Sure Ka Yone’ and ‘Shapo Ka Yone.’ SKY Girls are teenage girls who have defined the things they love (Sure’s) and the things they don’t want in their lives (Shapo’s). In an interview with Arts and Culture, the two girls couldn’t wait to reveal what the opportunity means to them. Paakanyo was quick to indicate that she is sure ka summer dresses, Christianity and punctuality. She said she is shapo ka people who thinks she doesn’t know how to sing and smoke.
For her part, Letlhogela said she was sure ka education, friends and family and shapo ka smoking, low self-esteem and bad influence.
“The sisterhood give us a platform talk and unleash the best in us without having to worry about people’s negative influence,” she said.
She said the SKY Facebook page gave them a platform to meet and interact with other girls.
Recalling her journey, Letlhogela said she decided to join the competition because she realised it was what she was looking for.
“After I submitted, they sent me a message indicating there are many applicants and at that point I gave up,” she recalled. Letlhogela said after being short-listed in January, she was required to speak on radio. However, for Paakanyo who is doing her Form Six at Maruapula, said she once tried her luck before but she didn’t get picked. “It wasn’t my time then. But I had perseverance so my resolution this year was to finally win and I entered the competition once more,” she said.
Paakanyo said she poured her heart and soul into it and at last she was short-listed for the top four. She said when the voting began she realised that her competitors had more than 500 friends on Facebook so they gave her a run for her money. “I had to add more friends so that they could vote for me,” she said. She said the love and support they received from friends and family was amazing.
Letlhogela said presenting on radio would give her all the confidence and stability she needs. “Despite past experiences, I feel I have control of my life and what is to come in the future,” she said. She said they are now getting more people to like the page and take the pledge. Paakanyo said for her it was about having to voice out the value of a girl child to other girls. She said it was now their responsibility to assure others to embrace their true identity.
“I am a jack of all trades and I want to reach out people through the media because it is an important platform,” she said. Letlhogela said since she wants to be a diplomat and she intends to use the media to address issues that are left out.
Paakanyo said girls should believe in themselves if they want to win in competitions. “You have to come up with something solid to talk about and act upon the dream,” she said.
Letlhogela, who is awaiting her Form Five results, said she was the voice of many therefore she wanted to help others using her strengths. Both girls thanked their families and friends for being supportive through this. Manatong said they didn’t train the girls because they wanted to see how far they could go. “They are SKY girls and we knew they were going to be great,” she indicated. She said Letlhogela and Paakanyo spoke for a thousand girls who want to hear themselves out.
“We told them that they represent all the other girls so they must be inspirational,” she said. She said the two girls would be featured on the SKY girls’ magazine issue 11, which is coming out this month. Since launching in February 2014, over 15,000 girls have taken the SKY pledge; a personal promise to stay true to themselves. Any teenage girl can take the pledge by sending an inbox message to skygirlsbw Facebook page.