Entrepreneurship & Skills
The core of EYA — equipping young people with practical, income-generating skills that turn potential into independence.
Miss South Africa 2026 · Top 24 · KwaZulu-Natal
Grace. Purpose. South Africa.
Unami Mthethwa
Entrepreneur. Media personality. Founder of Empower Youth Africa — building futures through skill, not statistic.
Miss SA
Top 24
About Unami
Where you start
should never define
where you end up.
Unami Mthethwa, 24, is a KwaZulu-Natal entrepreneur, content creator and media personality competing as part of the Miss South Africa 2026 Top 24. Her platform is built on a simple conviction: too much youth potential is held back not by a lack of talent, but by limited access to real, income-generating skill.
Through content creation and social media management, she built her own income and independence from the ground up — an experience that became the seed of Empower Youth Africa (EYA), her initiative equipping young South Africans with practical entrepreneurship and skills-development tools. For Unami, the crown is a platform, not a destination.
0
Years Old,
Top 24 Nationally
Top 24 Nationally
0
Youth Initiative
Founded — EYA
Founded — EYA
0
Braiding Bursaries
Sponsored, 2026
Sponsored, 2026
0
% Self-Built
Creator Income
Creator Income
My Purpose
Five pillars,
one platform.
Education
Championing access to learning as the foundation every other opportunity is built on.
Women Empowerment
Creating space for young women to lead, speak and build on their own terms.
Community Development
Investing directly in local futures — from bursaries to mentorship, one person at a time.
Mental Health Awareness
Making space for honest conversation about wellbeing within high-pressure, high-visibility journeys.
The Journey
2026, in real time.
16 May
The Mission, Stated
Unami publishes the video that would define her campaign: real, income-generating skills as the way to shift futures, not just statistics.
19 June
Top 24 Announced
Officially named to the Miss South Africa 2026 Top 24, representing KwaZulu-Natal.
23 June
It Became Real
From hopeful applicant to national finalist — the moment the work of the last year found its footing.
7 July
A Year Older
Celebrating another year of growth — surrounded by the people who've walked the journey with her.
8 July
Giving Back, On Her Birthday
Sponsors five aspiring braiders' training with the Milani Braiding School — turning her birthday into someone else's opportunity.
12 July
Back to UJ — As a Speaker
Returns to the University of Johannesburg, this time not as a student but as a speaker, equipping the Top 10 Mr & Miss UJ finalists with social media and personal branding skills.
Gallery
Moments & Milestones
Achievements
Recognition, in progress.
Miss SA 2026 Top 24
Officially selected to represent KwaZulu-Natal in the national Top 24.
Founder, EYA
Built Empower Youth Africa — a platform for entrepreneurship and skills development among young South Africans.
Guest Speaker, UJ
Returned to the University of Johannesburg to mentor the Top 10 Mr & Miss UJ finalists on branding and content.
Five Futures Funded
Sponsored five aspiring braiders' training at Milani Braiding School as a birthday give-back initiative.
Self-Built Creator Career
Built an independent income and media presence through content creation and social media management, from scratch.
Proudly South African
Home is KwaZulu-Natal.
Purpose is national.
Hover a province to see what roots Unami's story in South Africa — and where EYA's work is spreading next.
KwaZulu-Natal
Unami's home province — Zulu Kingdom heritage, the Drakensberg, and the Durban coastline. This is where her story starts.
Fashion Showcase
The Journey, 2026 —
a runway of moments.
Values
What holds it together.
Leadership
Compassion
Integrity
Confidence
Service
Excellence
Voices
What people say.
“Unami didn't just come to speak — she came to equip. Our finalists left with real, usable skills, not just inspiration.
“She's proof that a platform built on real work outlasts a moment built on a crown.
“Sponsoring five braiders on her own birthday tells you everything about where her priorities sit.
Vote & Connect
Every vote is
an investment
in someone's future.
Follow the journey, reach out for partnerships, or connect for media & speaking opportunities.
Based in
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa