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By Lineo Lesemane

Lifestyle Journalist


PICS: Meet the Top 30 contestants vying for the title of Miss SA 2023

The organisation made a few changes this year, allowing both married women and those with children to enter. Both Jordan van der Vyver and Nicole Eksteen are married, while Rozelle Bester has a five-year-old son.


Miss South Africa has officially announced the thirty women that will be competing for this year’s Miss South Africa title.

Gauteng leads the pack with nine contestants, including Natasha Joubert from Tshwane who is trying her luck again this year after she made the Top 3 in 2020 and represented Mzansi at Miss Universe competitions. 

Western Cape comes second with five, KwaZulu-Natal has four, Eastern Cape and North West have three each, Northern Cape and Limpopo have two, and lastly, Mpumalanga and Free State have one each.

Here are some of the Miss SA 2023 hopefuls: 

Ané Oosthuysen (25)

Ané is a primary school teacher from Vanderbijlpark, Vaal Triangle in Gauteng. She is a four-time graduate with degrees in Psychology and Medical Sociology.

Anelisa Nxele (22)

From Inanda, Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, Anelisa is a model and Social Sciences degree graduate from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, majoring in Economics. 

Angie Mkwanazi (23)

A Bachelor of Commerce graduate from the University of Pretoria, Angie also comes from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

Anke Rothmann (23)

A pharmacist intern from Northern Cape, Anke obtained her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the North West University in Potchefstroom. 

Barbara Moagi (22)

From Mahikeng in North West, Barbara is a digital content creator and second-year digital marketing student at Vega School. 

Bryoni Govender (26)

Bryoni is a qualified lawyer working as a trainee associate from Johannesburg, Gauteng.  

Carmen Barnard (24) 

Carmen has a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of South Africa. She is representing Gauteng. 

Hestie Jooste (25)

Hestie is a financial advisor from Pretoria in Gauteng. 

Homba Mazaleni (23)

Representing East London in the Eastern Cape, Homba is a qualified sports scientist and student intern at the University of the Western Cape. 

Jordan van der Vyver (27)

From Durbanville in Western Cape, Jordan is a businesswoman who recently embarked on an entrepreneurial journey as the co-founder and chief operating officer of an online pioneering platform. 

Karla Pienaar (23)

From Harties in North West, Karla is a Social Science and Geography teacher at Hartbeespoort High School. 

Keaoleboga Nkashe (27)

Coming from Itsoseng in North West is Kealeboga, who is an educator, student, and model. 

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Khanya Desi (22)

Khanya is from Frankfort, Eastern Cape. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Screenwriting from AFDA Johannesburg.

Lebohang Raputsoe (24)

From Sharpeville, Vereeniging in Gauteng, Lebohang works as an HR practitioner. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management and degrees in Industrial Psychology and Labour Relations Management. 

Lerato Maponya (26)

Born in Soweto, Lerato graduated in International Relations from the University of Pretoria and currently works as an HR manager in the emergency service industry. 

Levern “Donnatella” José (23)

Levern is a candidate property practitioner, a BCom law student at Eduvos Pretoria, and an entrepreneur from Kimberley, Northern Cape. 

Lungo Katete (26)

From Midrand in Gauteng, Lungo holds Bachelor, Honours, and Master’s degrees in Architecture from the University of the Witwatersrand. 

Malandi Marais (21)

Representing Citrusdal, Western Cape, Malandi is a BCom Law graduate and is currently a post-graduate LLB student at Stellenbosch University.

Mbali Mbalu (25)

Mbali comes from Mandalay, Cape Town. She is a marketing manager and consultant in the hospitality and entertainment industry, as well as an entrepreneur. 

Melissa Nayimuli (27) 

from Butterworth, Eastern Cape, Melissa works as a television and film creative producer in Johannesburg. 

Michelle Kruger (28) 

From Mpumalanga, she is a candidate attorney, Bachelor of Laws, and Bachelor of Arts in Law degree holder from the University of Pretoria. 

Naledi Mara (23)

Representing Seshego in Limpopo, Naledi holds a BA degree (criminology and psychology) from the University of Limpopo. 

Nande Mabala (25)

Nande is a model, micro-influencer, philanthropist, and a triple major BA Arts graduate from Zwelethemba, Worcester in Cape Town. 

Natasha Joubert (25)

A BCom Marketing Management graduate from Tshwane in Gauteng. Natasha is the owner and fashion designer of Natalia Jefferys, a company she started when she was 19.

ALSO READ: Miss SA 2020 runner-up Natasha Joubert tries her luck again

Ndyebo Lurayi (26)

From Midrand, Johannesburg, Ndyebo is the founder of Balleriia and Shot By Yebs. She is also a student pilot waiting for her graduation day to receive her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Unisa. 

Nicole Eksteen (28)

She has an honours degree in fashion design and is currently the project manager for a design and marketing agency. Nicole is from the beautiful Winelands in the Western Cape.

Oreabetse “Rea” Molefe (23)

Representing Northam, Limpopo, Rea is an International Relations student at Unisa. In 2022, she completed a Climate Change and Health Certification at Yale University.

Rozelle Bester (27)

From the Free State, Rozelle is a single mother working as a sales representative. She is studying for her bachelor’s degree in education. 

Sibusisiwe Zwane (20)

Sibusisiwe is a final year architecture student at UKZN. She is from Shelly Beach, Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal

Thandolwenkosi Hadebe (22)

From Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal, Thando is a filmmaker who graduated in film and live performance at AFDA and recently completed her honours studies in innovation. 

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