This Cape Flats teen got the best birthday present ever after meeting her idol yesterday, thanks to the Daily Voice.
Single mom Virginia Olifant, 39, asked your favourite koerantjie for help when her daughter Ruth, 13, expressed her wish to meet singer Paxton Fielies.
Paxton surprised the Grade 7 pupil at her school – Buck Road Primary in Lotus River – with a gift and klompie selfies.
Virginia, who has two older daughters including a 21-year-old with cerebral palsy, is the only breadwinner in her home.
She earns a stipend at a local school where she cooks food for the feeding scheme.
Virginia says Ruth is a good child and that’s why she wanted to make her wish come true.
“She is really deserving of this surprise and it’s the best birthday gift she ever received,” says Virginia.
“Ruth dreams of becoming a singer like Paxton one day.
“She also hopes to audition for Idols when she is older.”
Paxton arranged with Ruth’s teacher Miss Lisa Krieger, to video call the girl in class which caught Ruth off guard.
She was crying when she saw her idol on the screen.
Miss Krieger then took her to the staff room ‘to compose herself’, and that’s where Paxton was waiting for her in person.
The bubbly teen burst into tears and embraced the Idols winner.
“Wow, this is a real dream come true! Thank you so much for coming all this way to meet me and make my birthday so special,” an overwhelmed Ruth said.
“I want to be like you one day and sing as well as you.
“Thank you mommy, and thank you Daily Voice, this is the best day ever.”
Paxton sang “happy birthday” to Ruth, and the two even did a duet of her song, Innocent.
The teen also received a signed copy of Paxton’s album, This Is Me.
An emotional Paxton said: “I see a lot of myself in Ruth.
“It might seem small to others but to her this is huge, I can see it in the way she cried.