Lomile Dithakong is a proud mother, entrepreneur, community advocate, content creator, and Mrs South Africa 2026 Top 30 Finalist whose journey is driven by purpose, resilience, and a passion for empowering others. Balancing motherhood, a career in a male-dominated industry, her studies, businesses, and community initiatives, she has overcome financial pressure, rejection, and uncertainty while refusing to let hardship define her future. Through her advocacy, she champions women’s empowerment, mental wellness, poverty awareness, and community development, using her platform to create meaningful opportunities and restore hope. As she prepares for the next stage of her Mrs South Africa journey, Lomile continues to inspire others to start where they are, embrace their unique path, and keep moving forward despite life’s challenges.

Here is the Q&A session we had with Lomile Dithakong.

Lomile Dithakong As Cover Story Interview – August 2026 Magazine Edition

How do you introduce yourself?

My name is Lomile Dithakong, a proud mother, entrepreneur, community advocate, content creator, and Mrs South Africa 2026 Top 30 Finalist.  

At my core, I am a woman who believes that our lives are not defined by where we start, but by what we choose to do with where we are. I am passionate about women’s empowerment, mental wellness, community development, and creating opportunities that allow people to see beyond their circumstances.

I am also a woman of faith, and my journey has taught me that sometimes the road may not look anything like you imagined, but that does not mean you are not moving in the right direction.

Struggle – What hardships have you gone through in life?

I have experienced seasons where I had to keep going even when I did not have all the answers.

One of my greatest challenges has been learning how to pursue my dreams while carrying the responsibilities of being a mother, working, studying, and building businesses and community initiatives at the same time. There have been moments of financial pressure, disappointment, rejection,n and uncertainty where giving up would have been much easier.

But those experiences taught me resilience.

I have learned that hardship does not have to become your identity. It can become part of your testimony. Those difficult seasons have strengthened my faith, made me more compassionate towards others, rs and given me a deeper understanding of why I am so passionate about creating opportunities for people who may feel stuck because of their circumstances.

What do people usually not know about you?

People often see the confident woman, the public speaker, the content creator, and now the Mrs South Africa finalist, but they don’t always see the woman behind all of that.

By profession, I am a Train Driver assistant, which comes across as shocking to most people, and this is because the industry is male-dominated.I am actually quite introspective. I think deeply about things, I care deeply about people, and I can be very hard on myself because I genuinely want everything I do to have meaning.

People may also not realise how much I enjoy building things from scratch. Whether it is a business, a community project, an event or an idea that I believe can make a difference, I love taking something that exists only in my mind and turning it into something tangible.

I am also a firm believer that you can be ambitious and still be compassionate.

What sets you apart from others?

What sets me apart is purpose.

I am not pursuing the Mrs South Africa platform simply for the title. I see it as a vehicle to amplify conversations that matter to me, particularly women’s empowerment, mental wellness, poverty, community development and the impact that our circumstances can have on our emotional wellbeing.

My philosophy is that poverty affects more than the body; it can affect how a person sees themselves, their future, and what they believe is possible.

Through my community work and my NPO, I have seen how small interventions can restore dignity and create hope. I want my journey to demonstrate that leadership is not only about standing on a stage, but it is also about what you do when you step off it.

What are your upcoming major events?

The next chapter of my Mrs South Africa journey is incredibly exciting. 

I am currently preparing for the next stages of the competition leading towards the Mrs South Africa 2026 finals, while continuing to build my advocacy and community initiatives.

At this stage of my journey, I am actively seeking strategic sponsors and brand partners who believe in the vision behind my platform and would like to walk this journey with me. I am particularly interested in partnering with brands that share my values around empowering women, creating opportunities, and making a tangible difference in communities.

One of the projects I am particularly passionate about is a 5-a-side soccer fundraising tournament, which will bring together teams, spectators, businesses, and exhibitors while raising funds in support of cancer awareness and my Mrs South Africa journey.

For me, the exciting part is that the journey is bigger than the competition itself.

What expert advice would you like to give?

My advice would be: don’t wait until you feel ready. Start with what you have.

We often convince ourselves that we need more money, more followers, more experience, more confidence, or the perfect opportunity before we can begin.

But sometimes the first step is simply being brave enough to start.

I would also encourage people to stop measuring their journey against someone else’s timeline. Your journey is allowed to look different.

And finally, don’t allow rejection to convince you that you are not worthy. Sometimes a “no” is simply redirection, not a verdict on your potential.

Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep knocking. Your “yes” may be closer than you think.

What are your social media handles and website links?

• Instagram: @lomile_dithakong
• TikTok: @craftsby_lade
• Facebook: @Lomile Dithakong