This year’s Miss South Africa finalists – one of whom will proudly be crowned Miss South Africa 2019 on Women’s Day on August 9 – have been announced.
The Top 16 finalists (portrait pics of each contestant can be found on https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Y2b2JyNmzyN7MYDy4hOc6ii-6T41KDZG) who share a prize package worth R400 000, come from four of the country’s provinces. They are an impressive group and include law, B.Com and psychology graduates and students as well as a parliamentary officer and researcher.
This year members of the public can vote for their favourite contestant on the Miss South Africa website. The winner of the People’s Choice will automatically make it to the Top 10 on pageant night.
They are (in alphabetical order of their first names):
- Beulah Baduza (23), from Hatfield in Pretoria, who is a BA Law graduate and currently doing her LLB.
- Chuma Matsaluka (21), from Nyanga in the Western Cape, who is in her third year in a humanities degree at UCT majoring in anthropology, industrial sociology and political studies.
- Danielle Wallace (26), from Umhlanga in KZN, who moved this month to Cape Town, and is a Bachelor of Social Sciences graduate and full-time model.
- Eloïse van der Westhuizen (24), from Panorama in Cape Town, who has a B.Com and Honours degree in logistics/supply chain management (Cum Laude) from the University of Stellenbosch and currently works as a merchandise planner.
- Errin Brits (22), from Randpark Ridge, who is a BA Law Graduate (Cum Laude) and in her first year of LLB.
- Keabetswe Kanyane (25), from Mobapane in Pretoria, who works as an analyst and project coordinator and who graduated with a B.Com in Supply Chain Management at the University of Pretoria and is studying for a B.Com Hons: Logistics Management at the University of Johannesburg.
- Kgothatso Dithebe (24), from Centurion in Pretoria, who is a second-year law student at Unisa.
- Lisa Stoffela (26), who hails from Margate in KZN, but who is currently living in Johannesburg; she graduated with a B.Com in Financial Management, is the owner of a small pizza take-away restaurant and is a part-time model.
- Loren Leigh Jenneker (24), from Centurion in Pretoria, who is studying for a B.Com degree in Finance at the University of Johannesburg.
- Noluthando Bennett (24), from Kagiso in Krugersdorp, who is a sound engineer with a post graduate diploma in multimedia and web design.
- Nompumelelo Maduna (24), from Rockville in Soweto, who has a B.Tech Marketing Management from the University of Johannesburg and is working as a private banker at a leading financial institution.
- Sasha-Lee Olivier (26), from Alberton, who is studying for a marketing and psychology degree at Wits while also working as a model.
- Sibabalwe Gcilitshana (24), from Nqamakwe in the Eastern Cape and currently living in Bellville, who has her Honours in Justice and Transformation from UCT and works as a parliamentary officer and researcher for Equal Education
- Xia Narain (23), from Chatsworth, KZN, who has a Bachelor of Social Science degree in General and Industrial Psychology from UKZN Howard Campus and will next pursue her honours degree in clinical psychology.
- Zanele Phakathi (20), from Soweto, who is a first year Business Information Technology student at the University of Johannesburg and model at Boss Models.
- Zozibini Tunzi (25), from Tsolo in the Eastern Cape, who graduated with a ND Public Relations Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and is currently completing B.Tech in PR at the same institution, lives in Gardens.
Says Stephanie Weil, on behalf of the Miss South Africa Organisation: “We are thrilled with the calibre of this year’s finalists. They are intelligent, beautiful – both inside and out – and possess an admirable desire to make a difference in their communities. They have all ‘dreamed big’ and have done incredibly well to make the final 16 in a year in which we received a record number of entries.”
Her views are echoed by Gareth Flusk, Events and Entertainment Manager: Sun International: “We have a very talented and diverse Top 16 this year, a group of young women who are passionate about competing and winning the title. They depict everything that we hope the competition represents; intelligence, integrity and beauty. We are looking forward to an exciting build-up to the finale at Time Square next month.”
“Congratulations to the top 16 Miss South Africa finalists. These young women are indicative of South Africa – they’re diverse and vibrant. We are proud to play a role in empowering young females and look forward to bringing SA’s next role model to the fore,” said Louis Pulzone, CEO of the LFP Group who is one of the pageant’s major sponsors.
The judges were 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 andWomen’s Health editor Danielle Weakley.
The Miss South Africa pageant – with host Bonang Matheba – takes place on Women’s Day, Friday, August 9, at Sun International’s flagship venue, the Sun Arena at Time Square, Pretoria and will be broadcast live on both M-Net and Mzanzi Magic.
There is close to R3 million in prize money and sponsorships for this year’s glittering pageant, with the winner walking away with R1 million in cash as well as other fabulous prizes. The runner-up takes home R250 000 in cash, and all 16 finalists will receive R25 000.
Miss South Africa is presented by Weil Entertainment in association with Sun International and the LFP Group.
Tickets for this year’s pageant are on sale at Computicket Miss South Africa
Info supplied.
