Fashioning Modern Africanism

Some of South Africa’s top musical talents are set to perform in what promises to be a dazzling Miss South Africa 2023 finale, which will take place on   Sunday, August 13, at  Sun International’s flagship venue, the SunBet Arena, Time Square, Pretoria. The artists – all industry heavyweights – include Siki Jo-An, Jimmy Nevis, Brenda Mtambo and Robot Boii. Says Stephanie Weil,   Miss South Africa Organisation CEO:  “We are very excited about the entertainment lined up for this year’s pageant. We really wanted to present something new, something classic, something fresh and something unexpected in the pageant world but in line with our messaging. Having the range of performers that we lined up grace our stage is only fitting for a night where we crown our next Miss South Africa. It will be a big night of enthralling performances and audiences can expect to move and to be moved during the show.” Meet the performers: Siki Jo-An . A  multifaceted entertainer who dabbles in acting, songwrit

When Miss South Africa 2023 is crowned on Sunday she will wear a brand new coronet dubbed Mowana, the “Tree of Life”. As the new title holder takes in the enormity of the moment in which she becomes a South African ambassador and role model to young people everywhere, she will be carrying the weight of our heritage and of one of the most recognisable symbols of our country – a tree that signifies life. Mowana is the brainchild of Ursula Pule, creative director and co-founder of Nungu Diamonds, the proud sponsor of the new Miss South Africa crown. Pule, who has spent several years harnessing her skills in jewellery design, has created memorable pieces for celebrities such as Somizi Mhlongo, Connie Ferguson and Dineo Langa. She says: “My inspiration came from a safari we took in Musina in 2019; from the magnificent baobab tree, also known as the Tree of Life. As you drive into Limpopo, you see these exquisite trees – unlike any other trees – that represent our African heritage.  “The nex

South African born media personality and style icon, Bonang Matheba returns to the Miss South Africa pageant stage this Sunday as the official host. Her House of BNG Cap Classique is also the official Miss South Africa celebration sponsor. Having a long association with Miss South Africa over the past decade, Matheba first hosted the pageant for its 60th anniversary in 2018 then returned in 2019 when Zozibini Tunzi took the title and was later crowned Miss Universe. The pageant welcomes back Matheba, or Queen B as she is affectionately known, as a host and sponsor.  This year Matheba has played an even bigger role, having been on the journey with the finalists as a judge on the Miss South Africa television series Crown Chasers, which was broadcast recently on SABC 3. Matheba says she is delighted to be hosting the show once again. “The Miss South Africa pageant is one of the biggest television productions in the country, so I am very excited to be hosting the show for a third time this

It’s been 23 years since the Miss South Africa pageant was broadcast on SABC3 but now it’s back on the channel bigger and better than ever. In 1999, the grand finale was held at the Sun City Superbowl on Saturday, December 11 with 26 finalists taking part. At the end of the evening, SABC3 viewers watched Heather Hamilton from KwaZulu Natal crowned Miss South Africa. This year, the 2023 Miss South Africa winner will not only be crowned live on SABC3 but viewers will also get to see all the behind-the-scenes machinations that go into choosing a winner, with a five-part series – Crown Chasers   – being broadcast weekly in the lead up to the final event and the crowning of a new Miss South Africa, which will take place at Sun International ’s SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on Sunday, August 13. Says Lala Tuku, Head of Local Productions at the SABC: “We are thrilled to have Miss South Africa back on our platform. The Miss South Africa title carries with it a lot of hope, asp

The 2023 winner will be crowned at Sun International ’s flagship venue, the SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria on Sunday, August 13. It promises to be a spectacular and entertainment-packed show and will fittingly take place during Women’s Month. They are Ané Oosthuysen, Anke Rothmann, Bryoni Govender, Homba Mazaleni, Jordan van der Vyver, Keaoleboga Nkashe, Lebohang Raputsoe, Levern "Donnatella" José, Lungo Katete, Melissa Nayimuli, Nande Mabala and Natasha Joubert. The contestants represent five provinces – Gauteng has five (including two from the Vaal Triangle and one from Tshwane), followed by the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape with two each while the North West boasts one finalist. They are an impressive group and include a lawyer, a sport scientist, a pharmacist and a four time graduate who has degrees in psychology and medical sociology. The winner of the People’s Vote was Lungo Katete from Midrand who has a Master’s degree in Architecture from

The search has begun for the dynamic woman who will follow in the footsteps of the current Miss South Africa,  Ndavi Nokeri , represent her country on the international stage and become one of South Africa’s most recognisable faces and ambassadors. However, there are some exciting additions to this year’s competition, including a ground-breaking seven-part reality TV series as well as several rule changes which will allow married women and those with children to take part in the iconic contest for the first time. The age limit has also been modified.   Last year, fans were introduced – on the official Miss South Africa app – to  Crown Chasers , a behind-the-scenes look at the build-up to the 2022 finale.   This year,  Crown Chasers  has been developed into a full-blown and thrilling reality show showing the Miss South Africa competition as it’s never been seen it before. In the 7 x 60-minute series, those competing for the crown will be placed in real life Miss South Africa scenarios t

South Africa will soon be searching for Miss South Africa 2023 to follow in the footsteps of reigning queen Ndavi Nokeri. Entries for Miss South Africa 2023 will open today Monday, March 13, at 15h00 with several exciting new additions to this year’s competition being announced at the same time.   Says Stephanie Weil, CEO of the Miss South Africa Organisation: “ We have become known on the global scene as ‘pageant disruptors’. We constantly strive to keep the competition relevant and fresh and we believe our fans are going to be delighted and excited with what we’ve come up this year.   “While we are ensuring the Miss South Africa campaign loses none of the attributes fans and followers have come to love, we’ve also challenged ourselves to think bigger and better to make certain the Miss South Africa competition grows and evolves and retains relevance and interest in an ever changing world.   “I like to think of it as ‘pageantry revolutionised’,” adds Weil, “so be sure you don’t miss M