Former Miss South Africa 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida, continues to use her platform for good—this time advocating for menstrual health, a topic often left in silence.
On World Menstrual Health Day, Shudufhadzo shared a powerful message on her social media. She had just sat on a panel at the North American premiere of IMPURE, a touching film that tells the story of June, a 12-year-old Kenyan girl who gets her first period in a world that doesn’t understand or support her.
“On World Menstrual Health Day, I sat on a panel at the North American premiere of IMPURE, a heart-wrenching film about a 12-year-old Kenyan girl experiencing her first period in a world that isn’t ready to support her,” Shudufhadzo wrote. “It felt so familiar. So many girls still live the reality of fear, silence, and confusion. Today, there is no access to pads, no proper toilets, no information, and no one to turn to.”
Her words struck a chord with many who have lived through similar struggles or know someone who has. Shudufhadzo added, “But it doesn’t have to be this way. Every girl deserves to manage her period with dignity. Menstrual health is about more than hygiene – it’s about education, equality, and human rights.”
She shared how grateful she was to be on the panel with other powerful voices like Melissa Berton, Rico Herre, Marni Sommer, Ann Thomas, and Danielle Engel. And she had a message for girls like June, the film’s young lead character: “Your story matters. We see you. We hear you. We fight for you.”
In another part of her post, Shudufhadzo highlighted the huge gap that still exists in the world when it comes to period care. “Every month, over 2 billion people menstruate, yet more than 500 million lack access to menstrual products, proper sanitation, or education. And still—there’s silence. Shame. Stigma.”
She called for urgent change, saying, “We must break the silence. We must end the shame. We must ensure free access to menstrual products in schools and public spaces because managing your period should never be a barrier to dignity, education, or opportunity.”
Shudufhadzo’s powerful message didn’t go unnoticed. Many of her followers applauded her for speaking out on such an important issue.
Podcaster and motivational speaker Mpoomy Ledwaba commented, “A voice!!!!!! A beauty!!!! We are represented.”
Model Jordan Vdvyver added, “Thank you for raising awareness and speaking out on this!”
