Women’s Day is drawing closer on 9 August and so is one of the country’s biggest announcements – who will be Miss SA 2019?
Many – including in Alex which produced the pageant’s 2017 runner-up in Boipelo Mabe and runs its own beauty contests – waits with trepidation for the latest addition of the most beautiful and brainy daughter of the soil for the next 365 days. Hundreds threw their names into the hat, pampered their bodies and fertilised their brains in readiness and hope of clinching the throne, only for 35 to remain standing at this semi-final stage en route to the 16 finalists.
According to the pageant organisers’ (MissSA Organisation) statement, their fate is now in the hands of the judges – actress and motivational speaker Leandie du Randt; broadcaster and Miss South Africa 2015 Liesl Laurie; former runway model and casting director Andiswa Manxiwa; Miss South Africa 2010 Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala and Women’s Health editor Danielle Weakley.
“The 35 semi-finalists are an impressive and diverse group. Among them are law students and graduates, nature conservation graduates, a private banker, owners of a photography company and a pizza takeaway, humanities students and a parliamentary officer,” the statement read.
Of them, Gauteng has 19 contenders (with nine from Pretoria), five each from the Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal, two each from the Eastern Cape and Free State while Limpopo and the Northern Cape each have one entrant. The next fortnight will be an all-out contest to impress the semi-finalist round of judges to prove that ‘beauty isn’t just skin deep’ and neither is it in ‘the eyes of the beholder’ only.
Three of Gauteng’s hopefuls were on hand to the organisers recently saying the following about themselves. An aspirant advocate who is studying LLB, Kgothatso Dithebe (24) from Centurion who has a unique attribute, said of her journey. “People made me feel insecure by a facial birthmark during my upbringing and said I couldn’t do a number of things because of how I looked.
“It lowered my self-esteem and made me feel like I was less of a person. As a semi-finalist, this very beautiful mark on my face will send out a message to everyone who is currently in the same situation.
“Be yourself and love yourself wholeheartedly, don’t give the next person the power to make you feel self-conscious because of what they believe is a flaw in you.”
A sound engineer from Krugersdorp, Noluthando Bennett (24) said, “Miss South Africa gives women a platform to show that they are more than just a beautiful face, that they will champion a cause and are willing to take risks and implement them to see a positive change.”
The up-beat marketing student from Midrand, Anita Jansen’s (22) said of the opportunity, “I’d love to use my potential to inspire those around me, show young girls that nothing is impossible and with that same energy, create and nurture opportunities for other people no matter their roles.
“I want to pay special attention to mental health and how it connects to the body because when you’re healthy in the mind you are unstoppable.”
Their fellow contestants would have also aired their own words of wisdom to endear themselves to the judges and the public eagerly awaiting Mzansi’s next queen.
“R3 million in prize money and sponsorships will be on offer and the pageant winner will walk away with R1 million in cash, a car, luxury apartment for a year and other fabulous prizes. The first princess will take home R250 000 in cash and all 16 finalists will receive R25 000.”
Details: Miss South Africa Organisation www.misssa.co.za
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