Meet the top 12 Miss SA contestants (gallery)

Chantelle Sardinha is a 23-year-old actress and model, who hails from Fourways and has won beauty competitions before. This health and fitness fanatic wants to be the next Miss SA, “because I know who I am and what my country stands for.” She adds, “If I am blessed with the opportunity, I will employ a one-on-one approach.”

TOP 12. Miss South Africa 2015 finalist Shane Naidoo. Pictures: Kevin Mark Pass

Gugulethu Banda, 21, comes from Spruitview, Ekurhuleni, and is studying towards a BA Tourism Development at the University of Johannesburg. She enrolled for this qualification, because she loves travel and tourism and wants to make SA’s tourism sector bigger that it already is.

Banda strongly believes in beauty pageants being a representation of a woman’s inner and outer beauty. “Miss SA should inspire and empower women, both young and old, as well as represent their country in the best way possible.”

Roodepoort’s Kim Wentzel has entered Miss SA before, but believes she is better prepared this time around. The 24-year-old assistant fashion buyer maintains the Miss SA pageant is “a stepping stone for young women to achieve success through the empowerment it provides”.

TOP 12. Miss South Africa 2015 finalist Kim Wentzel. Pictures: Kevin Mark Pass.

Liesl Laurie, 24, of Eldorado Park has a B.Com General Degree from the University of Johannesburg.

She enjoys giving back to the community. She works with a number of NPOs that include Babies Behind Bars and Pilgrim Oasis Community Children’s Outreach in Eldorado Park and adjacent informal settlement in Kliptown. She also launched her own NPO, The Pearl Project, which aims to create a beacon of hope club through motivational and educational workshops for young girls and is held at various schools in her community.

Ntsiki Mkhize, 23, of Kliprivier, Midvaal, joined the competition after three entrants were disqualified for having visible tattoos.

Mkhize, who has a BCom Marketing Management and a BCom Honours in Logistics Management, has entered the pageant three times. She believes it’s an incredible platform for any young woman aiming for the stars and feels people from humble beginnings can reach great heights.

TOP 12. Miss South Africa 2015 finalist Refilwe Mthimunye. Pictures: Kevin Mark Pass

Refilwe Mthimunye, 22, hails from Bronkhorstspruit, in Tshwane and is in her third year studying LLB Law at Unisa. “The reason I’m studying law,” she says, “is I feel to be a great leader and politician, one needs to know the laws oneself. I’m doing my degree part-time, as I am pursuing my modelling career.”

Mthimunye believes all people have a purpose in life and “a part of this purpose is to give back and to be a blessing to others. My role is to serve as the voice of my fellow citizens, especially those who don’t have basic and fundamental rights and privileges in this country. I’d also like to assist in trying to make South Africa a better country.”

The seventh Gauteng hopeful is Shanè Naidoo, 22, from Farrarmere, Benoni, who is studying Industrial Engineering at Wits. “The knowledge obtained from this programme can be applied to a multitude of different areas in my life.” The Miss SA contest Naidoo feels will fulfil a lifelong dream and help her on a journey of self-discovery.

She also admits, “I’m an adrenalin junkie. Next on my bucket list is conquering the Soweto Tower. One day, I would like to skydive over the Palm Islands in Dubai. I crave adventure.”