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- Iviwe Blaauw has been selected to perform this year in IMTA 2023 in New York City.
- Iviwe believes his responsibility is to empower his community and encourage them not to give up on their dreams.
- Iviwe's mother, Cikizwa Blaauw, has made it her mission to ensure that her child has opportunities to showcase his talents, although she is a single mother.
When KwaZakhele mother, Cikizwa Blaauw, gave birth to her bouncing baby boy 16 years ago, she could not have anticipated the attention he was going to get from infancy, because of his features.
Blaauw said,
“Some people would even go to the extent of asking if they could adopt him and take him to their home countries abroad with them, all of which I politely declined.”
This sparked an idea in the mother, to enter her child in pageants.
From the tender age of one it was the norm for young Iviwe Blaauw to pose in front of cameras for different competitions and agencies. Now, a humble 16-year-old with a quiet confidence, Iviwe is determined to not only make his mother proud, but to make all his dreams come true.
Iviwe said,
However, determined not to let his circumstances define him Iviwe auditioned for the International Arts Talent Showcase, which was held in June of last year.
“I received a callback to showcase at the Silverstar Casino in Johannesburg, on a national stage where the judging panel were all American agents,” he said with pride.
Again the young model received a callback, and he received an official invitation to perform in IMTA 2023 in New York City.
“IMTA is the world’s largest modelling and talent convention, a five-day event where over 300 industry professionals from around the world showcase their stuff, and coach young talent,” he explained.
All throughout his journey, his single mother was with him, sacrificing all that she could, just to support her child’s dreams.
“She made sure I went to Joburg so I could audition, and she didn’t even have money to buy a ticket for herself to see me on stage, but she was still there in the venue,” Iviwe said emotionally.
When it comes to her son’s future, and the future of other young people in her community, Cikizwa will stop at nothing to show support.
“Sometimes, we as single parents complain about not receiving enough support from the other parent, if any. But I think if we focus on being hands-on and fully supporting our children’s dreams, things will improve. The most important thing is making sure these children see a way out of their tough circumstances,” said Cikizwa.
“I work as a Community Development Worker, so parents from the neighbourhood often come to me with their children’s issues – so many of them have been consumed by drugs and crime, it’s heartbreaking for me. That is why I want Iviwe to go for all his dreams, so that he is a beacon of hope for his peers, and can show others that it’s possible, even for them,” she added.
Like his mother, Iviwe feels the need to empower his community, and encourage them not to give up on their dreams. One such dream is to become a lawyer, and to have his own modelling agency.
“I want the agency to help aspiring models, especially with auditions and call-backs; I don’t want to see anyone struggling as I am, to get sponsors and finances to pursue their dreams,” he said.
Although he was unable to go to New York this year, Iviwe still has a chance to go next year, but needs a sponsor or donations from the public.
For more information, contact Cikizwa on 073 122 2955.
