<p>The first transgender contestant in South Africa's national beauty pageant, 24-year-old Lehlogonolo Machaba hopes she will inspire greater acceptance of the LGBTQI community.</p>

<p>Machaba, a fashion model, is competing for the Miss South Africa title, which opened to transgender contestants in 2019.</p>

<p>"Being the first is a bit overwhelming and I'm also anxious that people do know now that I'm a trans woman," Machaba said.</p>

<p>South Africa is the only African country where same-sex marriage is legal and which enshrines LGBTQI rights in its constitution. People can change their identity in the national birth register.</p>

<p>However, violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex people in South Africa has escalated, with more than 10 people killed in attacks this year, and social stigma and discrimination remains strong.</p>

<p>Machaba said she expected to be stigmatised for putting a spotlight on issues transgender people face, but that the killing of a close friend in a hate crime had given her strength to fight.</p>

<p>"I'm here to fight for my community, not necessarily in a physical manner, but through words," she said.</p>

<p>"It would mean a lot for me as a trans woman to win Miss South Africa but also I believe it would mean a lot for the queer community in South Africa. It would show that South Africa is breaking boundaries," she said.</p>


The first transgender contestant in South Africa's national beauty pageant, 24-year-old Lehlogonolo Machaba hopes she will inspire greater acceptance of the LGBTQI community.

The first transgender contestant in South Africa's national beauty pageant, 24-year-old Lehlogonolo Machaba hopes she will inspire greater acceptance of the LGBTQI community. Machaba, a fashion model, is competing for the Miss South Africa title, which opened to transgender contestants in 2019. "Being the first is a bit overwhelming and I'm also anxious that people do know now that I'm a trans woman," Machaba said. South Africa is the only African country where same-sex marriage is legal and which enshrines LGBTQI rights in its constitution. People can change their identity in the national birth register. However, violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex people in South Africa has escalated, with more than 10 people killed in attacks this year, and social stigma and discrimination remains strong. Machaba said she expected to be stigmatised for putting a spotlight on issues transgender people face, but that the killing of a close friend in a hate crime had given her strength to fight. "I'm here to fight for my community, not necessarily in a physical manner, but through words," she said. "It would mean a lot for me as a trans woman to win Miss South Africa but also I believe it would mean a lot for the queer community in South Africa. It would show that South Africa is breaking boundaries," she said.

‘Fighting for my community’: Meet miss South Africa's first transgender contestant 

<p>Sofia Hayat, model-turned-self proclaimed nun is in news again because of her Instagram posts on Friday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On March 2, the former model and ex-Bigg Boss contestant announced her engagement with a picture of her ring on Instagram. In her post, she said, &ldquo;this is the marriage heavens have been waiting for&rdquo; and added that the &ldquo;cosmic mother has finally been reunited with the cosmic father&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When people started wondering if it was a publicity gimmick, she posted pictures with her fiance. In pictures, she is seen kissing and cuddling with her fiance, Vlad Stanescu.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BRtoci6Bg5q/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">You make me so happy! I cannot wait to be your wife. We will marry with the ALL. All religions all Gods..in one..we are the all..we are the 1.</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Sofia Hayat. (Gaia Mother) (@sofiahayat) on <time datetime="2017-03-16T20:49:12+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Mar 16, 2017 at 1:49pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>In a recent interview to Times of India, she said, &ldquo;He is an Interior Designer from Romania. He is extremely creative and so talented. He has worked on palaces for His Majesty King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, HRH Queen Silvia of Sweden, HRH Prince William Duke of Cambridge, HRH The Sultan of Brunei, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar etc.&rdquo;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BRtxdc1htSd/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">My beautiful baby face..I look at you with such love. I adore you x</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Sofia Hayat. (Gaia Mother) (@sofiahayat) on <time datetime="2017-03-16T22:07:58+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Mar 16, 2017 at 3:07pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>One of her posts read: &ldquo;You make me so happy! I cannot wait to be your wife. We will marry with the ALL. All religions all Gods..in one..we are the all..we are the 1.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BRduoa4BnzZ/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I cannot wait for our sacred union and blessings infront of all of our friends. We will be blessed in the Temple of Awakening.. our religion is Peace and Love, all religions are Peace and Love. Islam, and that encompasses the All..the all is humanity whom we love dearly. The children of Heaven and of our sovereignty of Love. As our Unconditional love grows in the womb of Mother Earth..she will be known to all those with open hearts and minds..those without judgement and fear. Fear exists no more..Mother has found her Son the Father of All. In the rising of Egypt..all will know the truth in their hearts as true as our love for each other. You found me once again after thousands of years..you are the true Sun..I give the power of my sacred womb to you in your reverence of the sacred divine feminine energies. As all of Man must revere the sacred female creative power as do you. She has risen. You are my protection..my breath for all of humanity. I love you. Infinitely yours across all dimensions. Gaia Mother Sofia #ayahuasca #dmt #awakening #conciousness #gaiamothersofia #egypt #Ramases</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Sofia Hayat. (Gaia Mother) (@sofiahayat) on <time datetime="2017-03-10T16:35:24+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Mar 10, 2017 at 8:35am PST</time></p>
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<p>In the interview, she announced her wedding date as April 24. She added, &ldquo;Our ceremony is the blessing of all as one, Hindu, Muslim, Gnostic, Christian, Buddhist and Tibetan. The all, true divinity by an ancient Egyptian High Priestess who served me when I was Goddess Isis. We have already had our Islamic wedding.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Sofia Hayat, a year ago had gone all out to denounce sex and vowed to never get married. She also said that she is turning into a nun. There were Instagram posts to prove the claim, in traditional nun&rsquo;s attire.<br />
In an interview she said,&ldquo;I will never have sex, get married nor have children. Since I am the holy mother, everyone&rsquo;s my children. I have to look after everyone and make sure they know there is no hell. It is heaven that they are living in.&rdquo;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


Ex-Bigg Boss contestant and former model Sofia Hayat announces to get married on April 24

Sofia Hayat, model-turned-self proclaimed nun is in news again because of her Instagram posts on Friday. On March 2, the former model and ex-Bigg Boss contestant announced her engagement with a picture of her ring on Instagram. In her post, she said, “this is the marriage heavens have been waiting for” and added that the “cosmic mother has finally been reunited with the cosmic father”. When people started wondering if it was a publicity gimmick, she posted pictures with her fiance. In pictures, she is seen kissing and cuddling with her fiance, Vlad Stanescu. You make me so happy! I cannot wait to be your wife. We will marry with the ALL. All religions all Gods..in one..we are the all..we are the 1. A post shared by Sofia Hayat. (Gaia Mother) (@sofiahayat) on Mar 16, 2017 at 1:49pm PDT × In a recent interview to Times of India, she said, “He is an Interior Designer from Romania. He is extremely creative and so talented. He has worked on palaces for His Majesty King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, HRH Queen Silvia of Sweden, HRH Prince William Duke of Cambridge, HRH The Sultan of Brunei, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar etc.” My beautiful baby face..I look at you with such love. I adore you x A post shared by Sofia Hayat. (Gaia Mother) (@sofiahayat) on Mar 16, 2017 at 3:07pm PDT × One of her posts read: “You make me so happy! I cannot wait to be your wife. We will marry with the ALL. All religions all Gods..in one..we are the all..we are the 1.” I cannot wait for our sacred union and blessings infront of all of our friends. We will be blessed in the Temple of Awakening.. our religion is Peace and Love, all religions are Peace and Love. Islam, and that encompasses the All..the all is humanity whom we love dearly. The children of Heaven and of our sovereignty of Love. As our Unconditional love grows in the womb of Mother Earth..she will be known to all those with open hearts and minds..those without judgement and fear. Fear exists no more..Mother has found her Son the Father of All. In the rising of Egypt..all will know the truth in their hearts as true as our love for each other. You found me once again after thousands of years..you are the true Sun..I give the power of my sacred womb to you in your reverence of the sacred divine feminine energies. As all of Man must revere the sacred female creative power as do you. She has risen. You are my protection..my breath for all of humanity. I love you. Infinitely yours across all dimensions. Gaia Mother Sofia #ayahuasca #dmt #awakening #conciousness #gaiamothersofia #egypt #Ramases A post shared by Sofia Hayat. (Gaia Mother) (@sofiahayat) on Mar 10, 2017 at 8:35am PST × In the interview, she announced her wedding date as April 24. She added, “Our ceremony is the blessing of all as one, Hindu, Muslim, Gnostic, Christian, Buddhist and Tibetan. The all, true divinity by an ancient Egyptian High Priestess who served me when I was Goddess Isis. We have already had our Islamic wedding.” Sofia Hayat, a year ago had gone all out to denounce sex and vowed to never get married. She also said that she is turning into a nun. There were Instagram posts to prove the claim, in traditional nun’s attire. In an interview she said,“I will never have sex, get married nor have children. Since I am the holy mother, everyone’s my children. I have to look after everyone and make sure they know there is no hell. It is heaven that they are living in.” (WION)

Sofia Hayat breaks vow, decides to get married

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest &quot;The Voice&quot;, died after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said police on social media.<br />
<br />
Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said the Orlando Police Department on Twitter.<br />
<br />
Grimmie died due to her injuries, said the authorities in a post early Saturday.<br />
<br />
The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted.<br />
<br />
Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the &quot;The Voice,&quot; a singing competition on NBC.<br />
<br />
&quot;We are heartbroken&quot;, The Voice tweeted.

Gunman opens fire as Grimmie was signing autographs after a performance, shocking fans

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest "The Voice", died after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said police on social media. Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said the Orlando Police Department on Twitter. Grimmie died due to her injuries, said the authorities in a post early Saturday. The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted. Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the "The Voice," a singing competition on NBC. "We are heartbroken", The Voice tweeted.

The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie is dead after Orlando concert shooting

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest &quot;The Voice&quot;, was in a critical condition on Friday&nbsp;after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said&nbsp;police on social media.<br />
<br />
Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said&nbsp;the Orlando Police Department on Twitter.<br />
<br />
The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted.<br />
<br />
The authorities said that it knew Grimmie&#39;s fans wanted as much information as possible, and it would provide updates as the investigation unfolds.<br />
<br />
Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the &quot;The Voice,&quot; a singing competition on NBC.<br />
<br />
&quot;We are heartbroken&quot;, The Voice tweeted.

Grimmie, who finished third as a contestant during the 2014 season of 'The Voice', was in critical condition

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest "The Voice", was in a critical condition on Friday after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said police on social media. Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said the Orlando Police Department on Twitter. The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted. The authorities said that it knew Grimmie's fans wanted as much information as possible, and it would provide updates as the investigation unfolds. Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the "The Voice," a singing competition on NBC. "We are heartbroken", The Voice tweeted.

The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie shot in Orlando concert

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