Mabe’s charm offensive pays off
ALEXANDRA – Alex girl makes it to the top 12 Miss South Africa finalists whose queen will be crowned at Sun City Superbowl on 26 March.
Boipelo Mabe’s charm offensive to woo Pholosho Junior Secondary School schoolchildren and the community of Alex to vote for her in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant has paid off.
Mabe (23) was born in Alex, matriculated at Sandringham High School in 2011 and holds a BA undergraduate degree in politics and international relations as well as a postgraduate honours degree in development studies.
Currently, she is one of the top 12 finalists in the pageant and is vying for the title of Miss South Africa 2017.
While pursuing her master’s degree in international relations, Mabe had appealed to her community and fans to cast their cellphone votes to put her ahead in the pageant, which they did.
Mabe will be among the 12 finalists competing to wear the prestigious crown at the Sun City Superbowl, which will be televised live and simulcast on M-Net and Mzansi Magic.
The winner will receive R1 million in cash from the pageant’s sponsors, Sun International and Cell C, as well as a bouquet of prizes which will elevate the competition to one of the richest pageants in the world.
Eight of the finalists are from Gauteng, while two are from the Western Cape and two are from KwaZulu-Natal.
The finalists are:
1. Adè van Heerden from Herold’s Bay, Western Cape
2. Boipelo Mabe from Alexandra, Gauteng
3. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters from Sedgefield, Western Cape
4. Iman Mkwanazi from Lenasia, Gauteng
5. Kayla Malherbe from Mtunzini, KwaZulu-Natal
6. Nicole van Niekerk from Môregloed, Pretoria, Gauteng
7. Nompumelelo Mampholo from Diepkloof, Soweto, Gauteng
8. Odirile Sepeng from Mabopane, Pretoria, Gauteng
9. Priyeshka Lutchman from Yellowwood Park, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
10. Shané Naidoo from Benoni, Gauteng
11. Shelbe Pretorius from Pinehaven, Krugersdorp, Gauteng
12. Yuta Raubenheimer from Kameeldrift, Pretoria, Gauteng.
For the first time in the history of the Miss South Africa pageant, members of the public were invited to vote for their favourite Miss South Africa 2017 semifinalist and propel her into the top 12. The winner of the public vote was Pretoria’s Nicole van Niekerk.
The second round of public voting opened at midnight on 2 February.
The public’s SMS votes will have a 25 per cent weighting of the overall voting towards the winner, with 75 per cent resting with the official judges.
The public can SMS the number of their favourite finalist to the short code number 45791.
Each SMS will cost R1.50 and proceeds from the competition will benefit the Cell C Girl Child Bursary Fund.
Up for grabs for five lucky voters is a weekend at The Palace at Sun City and VIP tickets to attend the live Miss South Africa pageant and afterparty at Sun City.
Read: Be sexually safe in the month of love
