IMAGINE standing on a big stage in a foreign country, lights shining brightly, as you share your dreams with the world. That is exactly what seven-year-old Trudy Mundia did when she participated in the Little Miss Toto Africa 2024 pageant in Nigeria early this year. With a heart full of dreams, Trudy’s final speech fascinated everyone. “Today I stand before you with a heart full of dreams, not just for myself, but for every child across Africa. As little Miss Toto Africa, I will use my title to continue teaching children about money. Imagine a world where every child understands how to handle money wisely. I want to inspire more African children to learn about money and savings by hosting fun workshops, playing games and telling stories that teach us about money. Having financial knowledge is important because it can help reduce poverty in Africa. It can also help children work hard in school and start their own businesses. Winning this pageant is not about the crown for me; it is an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of other children and their families” she said. And indeed, Trudy, representing Zambia, was crowned Little Miss Toto Africa 2024. Her journey to the crown was an exciting adventure. “I liked the whole journey to the pageant. I liked being on the plane for the first time, I liked the water at the beach, and the last part I liked was the boot camp,” she said. Trudy’s passion for modelling started when she was just five years old. Her mother, a professional model, has been her inspiration. “I love modelling because I can showcase my talent, and it makes me more confident,” she said. At the pageant, Trudy competed in the Toto category. For the talent show, she wore a dress made of different chitenge materials, representing the beauty, intelligence, and culture of Africa. “For the traditional outfit, I wore a queen and warrior outfit inspired by the Lozi and Ngoni traditions of Zambia. It was made out of reeds, which stand as a symbol of protection,” she explained. For the grand finale, she wore a beautiful purple ball gown that everyone loved. During her final presentation, Trudy spoke passionately about financial literacy for young people. She believes that teaching children how to manage money is important. “There is an academy that I am in called Zed kidpreneur. They have been helping me with all my financial literacy lessons, and now I am their brand ambassador. I am excited to teach my friends about money too so that they also know how to handle money,” she said proudly. Trudy is also an advocate for child rights and dreams of helping children in need. “If I make a lot of money from my savings, I will donate some of it to orphanages and then keep a little bit for myself and make a budget for how to spend the rest,” she said. Through her pageant journey, Trudy has learned the importance of staying confident and positive. She advised other children to follow their dreams and be themselves. “Children should just follow their dreams and be themselves. Practice makes perfect. You don’t always have to get everything correct. Sometimes if you don’t get something correct, you can still win it,” she said. When she grows up, Trudy dreams of becoming a model and chef. She loves learning about different cultures and trying new foods. “When I was in Nigeria, I learned that their culture loves spicy food. It was too spicy for me, but I still liked it,” she said. Trudy encouraged all children to stay positive and follow their dreams. “If they put their mind to it, they will definitely win it,” she said with a confident smile.

BY ABIGAIL CHIFUSA