Having been raised from a disadvantaged background in Tembisa Township in Gauteng, has not stopped Renee Shipalana, fondly known in her community as “Miss long legs” to push beyond the boundaries of poverty, and pursue her modelling career at a very young age.
The 21-year-old radio and television personality is an example that poverty is a state of mind. Shipalana has been through beauty pageants such as miss TUT, where she became the first princess and Miss Soshanguve Valentines 2020.
The young and ambitious lady is an example that growing up in a disadvantaged background does not determine your future.
“Miss Soshanguve Valentines 2020 taught me that as long as you have the passion and a vision in what you do, it will automatically reflect in the eyes of others and they will start believing in you as well, “she said.
“Just do what you love with passion and the rest will follow,” she added.
It is not just about her beauty and sexiness, Shipalana is also a second year law student at TUT (Tshwane University of Technology).
She says that growing up in a disadvantaged home was a bit challenging for Shipalana but her parents did their best to provide for her and her three siblings.
“Other children had things that I did not have and they celebrated birthdays, which I could not but I understood where I came from, in that way I overcame that challenge,” she said.
Adding to her passion for modelling, Shipalana inspires children in her community by hosting pageants and educates parents about what modelling is.
“Some people do not really have knowledge about modelling and end up judging what I do, until they know what it is about. It also helps children to stay out off the streets and have something to keep them busy,”she said.
Her future plans is to graduate as a law student and wishes to have her own modelling agency.
What keeps her motivated is her love for performing.
“I get peace when I am on stage and around people and that is when I realised that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” expressed Shipalana.
Shipalana urges all the youth and other people who want to reach their goals to believe in themselves and to work hard.
The 21-year old has hosted pageants like Miss Teen and Junior Teanong in Tembisa.
Shipalana is a Semi-Finalist on Face of Sosha 2020/21 beauty pageant.
To see more of her work, visit her Facebook page @Summer Renee Shipalane (Miss Long Legs)
