Alice

Khanyi is from Phillipi, one of the most dangerous townships in Cape Town. It is an area that has one of the highest murder rates in the country, and where gang violence and drug abuse are rampant. Many families in the area face acute poverty and social challenges; dropping out of school is common. Pupils at Peak View high school, where Khanyi studies, often repeat grades in order to get to the final year of school, which is seen a success in itself, whether or not a student passes their final exams.



Khanyi is very excited to finish school as she wants to travel and experience different places.



For these students, attending the matric (short for matriculation) ball represents a huge achievement. While the night gives them a chance to feel glamorous and socialise with their friends and teachers, it also signifies their success in reaching their final year of school, and of having overcome odds that were stacked against them.



Khanyi takes pride in her uniform and appearance when attending school. She says since starting at Peak View, she has wanted to prove she is a model student.



In the time I spent with Khanyi, I was struck by her calm dignity and confident selfhood as an emerging young woman, and I am grateful that she allowed me access to these pivotal moments in her life. Working with her became an increasingly collaborative process, as she had a very clear sense of the self she wanted to project as she prepared for her final exams and the dance – both landmark moments in her life.



This project is part of my ongoing work exploring notions of beauty, physical appearances, empowerment and femininity. Despite the many difficulties she and her classmates face, my intent here is to communicate her pride and self-assurance as an empowered and dignified individual.

Khanyi

My parents have been very supportive. They taught me to have a good work ethic. They told me, “After matric, you have to stand on your own, you have to find something to do, and if you’re not at school, you’re going to have to work. So, if you’re gonna stay under our roof, you have to do something.” They are really focused, and they want the best for us, so now, whatever they do, we take after them. They are role models for me. They are role models in terms of the way they try to show me the way … They show me that after school, life is gonna be like this, so you’re going to have to be focused, and go for what you want.

My parents are setting an example for other people in the community Khanyi

Khanyi with her mum and stepdad, Thandiswa and Ayanda Mtulu. Below: Studying at home, and with her close schoolfriend, Yamkela



Khanyi and Yamkela Gaqelo, one of her best friends at Peak View, and right, with mum, Thandiswa.



I can say, like when I look around me, that I have a different support from my parents than some other families. Like, the way I am looking at our family, they are focused. They don’t want us to end up in the streets like some other people. They are also setting an example for some other people in the community. This is what you should do for your children, so I can say they are very supportive … In a lot of families, you don’t get that amount of support.

From us, they expect us to do well. People respect them in our community.

Khanyi checks her reflection after having false lashes put in, and gets diamantes added to her nails at a salon.



Khanyi gets a weave professionally done for the first time. She has many screenshots saved on her phone for dress, hair and nail inspiration.



When I am out of the house, or out with my friends, I handle myself. I have a lot of respect for myself. If I’m wild, it will definitely get back to my house. My family is not like that. People are gonna be like: “How can she be like that? What happened?” So, in a way, I must still keep my family around … I must keep myself in good manners out there.

Khanyi poses for a few last pictures in her living room before leaving the house for the dance.



Getting to matric, it was so exciting … because I feel like, OK, this was my last year, and I had to focus on it. I’m tired of high school, I’m tired of uniform … It’s getting boring now. So finally, I’m out, I’m done with school and I can focus on myself. But it has been fun – exciting, but scary.

Rasheeda made Khanyi’s dress, and the first time they met was when Khanyi arrived to try it on, a few days before the dance.



Khanyi liked being seen off by family and friends from the community, although she also said it made her feel even more nervous as it made the event seem like a really big deal.



I felt great (having got to matric) … Like, I really worked so hard that I got there, and I was meeting there with other people who had been trying to get there for some years. I had this feeling that I’m finally here. It was really great … and also quite emotional. But then I had to focus, and not get distracted. Some of my classmates, they have been trying for years, but it’s easy for people to fail. So I had to really focus, so that I could pass and get my best results.

Originally I didn’t want to go to the dance because my boyfriend, he wasn’t going to be there. My mum, she convinced me, she told me that, this is a one-off opportunity, like, I am never gonna get that moment again, you know? So, I had to go, I had to go and try it out because she was there … she went to her matric ball and she also wanted me to have that dance, because, a lot of other children, they never get that chance … so she wanted me to be there, and just enjoy myself… She was very supportive, like she planned everything! She really wanted me to go, and so she had to work it out.

It felt really special for me, because… other girls, they couldn’t even go Khanyi

Khanyi and Athi Pike. They spent most of the night together as they both attended the dance without partners. A number of their friends were able to attend, so they all sat together.



It felt really special for me, because other girls, they couldn’t even go because they couldn’t get dresses. They couldn’t even pay the money for the tickets. So, for me, it was really special. Everything worked out for me, it was perfect that I got to be there, and I got to experience that moment and see the other girls there, excited and enjoying themselves. Everyone was so pretty. I did really enjoy it.

Initially all the girls acted shy about having their photos taken, but they soon warmed up.



On that night, I felt truly lovely. I did feel beautiful. Everyone there was beautiful and to see all the pictures afterwards, it was really nice. And I didn’t even want to go, but afterwards I was really happy. I would have regretted it if I didn’t go … I could say I did it. And I was excited about that.

Khanyi with her friend, Azasakhe Manxeba, and right, with her friend Athi Pike.



My beauty, I think it shows from the heart... like not appearance, in the way that I’m dressing, but loving people Khanyi

I want to start my career now. I really want to be a flight attendant – to do things I want to do. So I need to focus, I want to get what I want, and I won’t give up, I know I’m going to get it some time. I want to travel. I want to see other places, and I want to meet other people, and know different kinds of people, different characters. I want to be in new environments, see other places ... I’m good at caring for people, I’m not an angry kind of person, I’m always happy. I really just love being around people. I just love people. Being friendly to people, it comes naturally to me. I think I would be good at this kind of job because of that. I make people happy. I think it’s good to have people respond to you well … I try to be different from the other girls around me. Like, I don’t treat myself as a tough girl. I’m a people person.

Towards the end of the night, Khanyi sends a message to her boyfriend, who couldn’t be there.



I think to be beautiful, it comes from the inside. My beauty, I think it shows from the heart … Like, not in appearance, in the way that I’m dressing, but in loving people, getting to talk to them. If there’s something wrong, I have to give them advice, and just be friendly to them. That’s what I think beauty is – it should come from the inner me. That’s how beautiful I want to be.