Tilehurst-based mum of two Sarah Sakala has been shortlisted to represent Reading at the Miss, Mrs & Mr Africa UK & Ireland pageant in September.
Sarah represented Reading in the Miss Africa GB pageant last year and enjoyed success as she won the Miss Amiable title.
The Miss, Mrs & Mr Africa UK & Ireland pageant takes place in Manchester and aims to represent and promote diversity – and to celebrate African communities in the UK and Ireland.
Sarah, who runs Reading-based cleaning business Sakala Cleaning Service, believes that the focus of the pageant aligns well with her commitment to supporting and celebrating Reading’s African communities.
“Winning an award at the Miss Africa GB pageant last year was amazing,” she said. “But just to be able to represent Reading’s African communities was a fantastic experience, and gave me a lot of confidence and inspiration.”
Sarah, who moved to England from Zambia aged 14, is now involved in a number of projects to help support African communities in Reading, as well as running her own business.
She is looking into launching a new festival in Reading that will focus on music and art and will be representative of different African cultures.
Councillor Glenn Dennis, Reading’s first black Mayor, is backing Sarah’s aims to celebrate African culture in the town.
He is an advocate for diversity and inclusion and one of his chosen charities as Mayor is the Reading Community Learning Centre, which is dedicated to empowering marginalised women from Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic backgrounds.
Councillor Dennis, who steps down as Reading’s Mayor this month, added: “I am delighted to be able to show my support for Sarah’s efforts to bring the different communities of Reading together.”
