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ORANGE ARMY, FEEL MY RHYTHM!!!

VOTE 4 MARSH!


The 5,6,7,8 of yours truly

Originating from Zimbabwe, to 012 "Pitori", and ALL THE WAY to the City of Gold...


I AM MARSHAL GUSWANI  


Waltz with me through my journey to the CROWN.



Behind The Poms

 Authentically, I am just a boy from Zimbabwe with huge dreams and an unstoppable determination. I LOVE music, reading, and taking walks (specifically on a Sunday to reboot), Marvel, and thriller movies. Oh, and did I mention everyone's favourite cheerleader? Behind the scenes, I am a member of the University of Johannesburg's International Student Executive team, which represents international students for the Global Engagement Division. What wakes me up every day? It would have to be my passion for the arts and community building. Faced with ridicule throughout my lifetime and most recently within UJ on social media during my first year, inclusivity found a new meaning, and it became my catalyst.


One word to describe me would be TRAILBLAZER. Often finding myself in leadership, I have recognised the absence of queer, foreign, and male leadership or participation within the arts, which has inspired my advocacy. My audacity to command rooms and leave a legacy through selflessness, service, compassion, and innovative thinking drives my ambition not just to the crown, but to my unstoppable horizon.



MR W's Journey

  • CE Day: Top 10 Edition at Woodside Sanctuary
  • Top 10 Bootcamp: Day 1
  • Top 10 Interviews with Second Princess '25
  • Today's leaders serving and making an impact!
  • Ace Model workshop with reigning Miss INDIA '25
  • Networking with the First Princess '25
  • Padel Green session

I am beyond grateful and honoured to be a finalist. This journey is more than just about the crown; it's about growth, expansion in abundance, and my contribution to the communities around me.  


From my application to my latest UJ FM: Behind the Crown Exclusive interview, this journey has been the best chapter of my life yet and one that has transformed me as a person immensely and in such a short period of time. A special word of thanks to the executive team for working so graciously and providing us with so much knowledge and opportunities.



My Advocacy: Expansion in Abundance


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MARSH'S CROWNING MOMENT

MARSH'S CROWNING MOMENT



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My Advocacy: Expansion in Abundance

My Why


I have been in the arts from a young age. I found myself isolated in a space meant to bring people together. Met with ridicule for my passion and the isolation of having no counterparts that related to me at a deeper level, it ignited the determination to fight for a space where men, queer people, and marginalised voices could belong without apology. That experience drives my advocacy today.


The Vision


My vision extends beyond this institution, with the ambition of becoming a global movement. Change begins in the roots we plant, and I aim to champion it, for the students by a student within the institution. By changing our views, we change the world, and I will champion that change. As a politics student, I see the impact art has in politics and community. Art transcends language and human comprehension and can impact our communities psychologically, socially, and monetarily. I aim to use existing organisations, social media campaigns, and facilitate activations and workshops to tackle stigma against men within the arts, men’s mental health, and queer representation.


Why does this matter?


According to the University of Witwatersrand (2022: 7), ” have further underscored the prevalence of depression symptoms, revealing that approximately 25.7% of the population experiences symptoms associated with depression.” One cannot deny the influence that societal norms play in such statistics. The arts are and should be a vital tool used to allow self-expression and authenticity to prevail, particularly for men. Yet, it proves to be a space that perpetuates hateful rhetoric. This stigma silences talent and denies men the opportunity to pursue their passions freely, which snowballs into mental health and belonging within one's community. Despite South Africa's progressive constitution, queer representation in leadership remains limited. The issue is not ability; it is visibility, opportunity, and personal prejudice. My advocacy encourages queer students to take up space and lead unapologetically. To be queer is to be fearless in the face of insurmountable judgement. I believe that with that bravery, it should be used to tap into the youth’s potential to shape our tomorrow. South Africa is facing a staggering youth unemployment rate of 60.9% according to StatsSA (2026). The entertainment industry offers a viable pathway to employment, yet access to industry networks, exposure, and societal limitations hinder tapping into its potential. We must bridge that gap.


My Advocacy in Action


The implementation of Expansion in Abundance (EA) provides an inclusive space for men to come forward and share their stories, for creatives to find community and gain networking opportunities to hopefully propel them into the entertainment industry, for queer students to visibly see a role model and become encouraged to live authentically and take up space in leadership. EA pioneers and leads the voiceless and serves the community at large through service. As an international student myself, I understand what it means to feel like an outsider. My advocacy ensures that no student, regardless of nationality, gender, or identity, feels invisible. Through art, we can truly change our communities and embody Ubuntu in action.