Miss South Africa Crown Chasers’ First Celebrity Judge Makhadzi Wins Top International Music Award As The Episode Celebrates Being Proudly South African!

Crown Chasers’ first celebrity judge this season – Limpopo born artist Makhadzi – has won a Black Entertainment Television (BET) award in the Viewer's Choice: Best New International Act category, held in Los Angeles in the US at the weekend.

Makhadzi  joins resident judges Leandie du Randt and Lerato Kganyago this weekend when the second episode of the acclaimed Crown Chasers (CC3) will be broadcast on S3 on Saturday at 20h30 with a repeat on Sunday at 13h00.

In the episode, the chase officially begins for the Top 16 in a celebration of the beauty of heritage and being Proudly South African. A cooking challenge tests their teamwork and gives them the opportunity to share dishes that are not only meaningful to them as individuals, but also that showcase the food of their culture. A fun dance challenge has the teams bringing the MoFaya to the floor. And they shine through the lens in the light of the elegance and beauty that their ancestors have passed down to them. The first elimination of the season reminds the finalists that this is a competition.

Hailing from Ha-Mashamba Tshivhangani, just outside Elim in the Vhembe district, Makhadzi has long been a beloved figure on the South African music scene. She established her own record label Makhadzi Entertainment last year and began to work on her sixth studio album Mbofholowo. The album amassed one million streams on Apple Music, two days after its release last September and was also certified platinum in South Africa. Number 1 featuring Iyanya, and Prince Benza was released in May this year. The song debuted No 9 on The Official South African Charts and was certified two-times platinum in South Africa within two months.

Says Stephanie Weil, CEO of the Miss South Africa Organisation: “Huge congratulations to the wonderful and talented Makhadzi; you have done the nation proud. You are an inspiration not only to our Top 16 contestants but also to all young South Africans. We are delighted that you are our first celebrity judge this year – we know that viewers are going to love all the action taking place in the upcoming episode which coincidentally is a celebration of our heritage and being Proudly South African."

The 2024 winner will be crowned at Sun International’s flagship venue, the SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria on Saturday, August 10, in what promises to be a spectacular and entertainment-packed show that will, once again fittingly, take place during Women’s Month.

Download the Miss South Africa app for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play store.

Miss South Africa is presented by Weil Entertainment in association with Sun International. S3 is the official broadcast partner.