Miss SA Shudufhadzo Musida set to release debut children’s book
Reigning Miss South Africa Shudufhadzo Musida has recently added the title of author to her impressive list of achievements, producing her debut children’s book – Shudu Finds Her Magic, published by Jacana Media.
The beauty queen, who also recently graduated from the University of Witwatersrand with an honours degree in International Relations, is set to release the book in six languages that are accompanied by delightful illustrations by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne.
The book is inspired by Shudufhadzo’s own childhood and the bullying she experienced when she moved to a new province and a new school.
“The book is aimed at children aged between four and 12 years of age and deals with bullying and the power of friendship. I hope that youngsters will be able to see themselves reflected in the storyline and be able to take something positive away from it,” she said.
“The one lesson I want to impart is that when something bad is happening to you it is important to speak to an adult that you trust about it. This could be a parent, a family member, a teacher or an elder. Remember that being bullied is not your fault. There is nothing wrong with you. Nobody should have to go through what I went through.”
Shudufhadzo is a well-known advocate for mental health awareness, and this year launched her online mental health initiative #MindfulMondays on her Instagram platform @shudufhadzomusida, in conjunction with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) and Discovery Vitality.
The book is available in Afrikaans (Shudu Vind Haar Sprankel), English (Shudu Finds Her Magic), Sesotho (Shudu O Sibolla Boikgetho ba hae), Venda (Shudu u wana Vhuṱolo Hawe), Xhosa (uShudu u Fumanisa ukuba UnoMlingo) and Zulu (uShudu Uthola Umlingo Wakhe); and will be available in bookstores around the country and online towards the end of August.
Together with the Miss South Africa Organisation and Jacana Media, the trio is determined to make the book available to children around the country and copies will be donated to Childline and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) who help children with issues like bullying and depression.
Shudufhadzo will also be giving a series of virtual school talks around the publication of the book and will do a countrywide tour to promote it, subject to Covid-19 restrictions.
Miss South Africa CEO Stephanie Weil says, “We are proud of Shudu and what she has achieved with this book. We hope that it helps teach children how to cope with bullying as well as about kindness and compassion and what it means to be a friend. Shudu has always wanted to make a difference and she certainly has.”
