Fashioning Modern Africanism

Natasha Joubert from Centurion in Tshwane has been crowned Miss South Africa 2023 at the spectacular pageant finale held at the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on Sunday night. Joubert (26) is a BCom Marketing Management graduate and is the owner and fashion designer of Natalia Jefferys, a company she started when she was 19. Runner-up was Johannesburg’s Bryoni Govender who was also the Motherkind fitness award winner. An emotional and overwhelmed Joubert said she was truly humbled and grateful to win the title and to be the first to wear the glittering new Mowana (“Tree of Life”) crown from Nungu Diamonds. She received   R1 million in cash in a prize and sponsorship package that includes   the use of a serviced apartment at the lavish Brookfield at Royal in Kensington – developed by Tricolt – for the year of her reign.  She will also get to drive  a Mercedes-Benz   GLC   as well as go on a trip to Paris sponsored by L’Oreal. In her acceptance speech Joubert, a firm favourite a

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

Reigning Miss Universe, R'Bonney Nola Gabriel, will join four other leading South African personalities on this year’s Miss South Africa judging panel. They are Leandie du Randt, Thuso Mbedu, Devi Sankaree Govender and Jo-Ann Strauss. Gabriel (29) – an American fashion designer, model and beauty queen who was previously crowned Miss USA 2022 –   became the ninth entrant from the United States to win the Miss Universe title, succeeding Harnaaz Sandhu of India. Sitting alongside Gabriel on the Miss South Africa judging panel will be:   Actress, presenter, voice artist, model, author and entrepreneur, Leandie du Randt, who also served as a judge on the Miss South Africa television series Crown Chasers . ·       Actor Thuso Mbedu, who first rose to prominence in the teen drama series  Is'Thunzi , for which she was nominated for an  International Emmy in 2017 and 2018. In 2021 she starred in The Underground Railroad  which earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Fema

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

Designer Nobukhosi Mukwevho is the guest judge on episode 4 of the Miss South Africa television series Crown Chasers which airs on Sunday, July 30 at 16h00 on SABC 3. She joins the show’s regular judges Bonang Matheba and Leandie du Randt along with series’ host Zozibini Tunzi. E pisode 4, titled Honouring our Heritage , shows the importance of understanding the many cultures and backgrounds that exist in South Africa. The first challenge introduces the finalists to Banyana Banyana, ahead of their departure for the World Cup, and showcases the value of national pride. The finalists also create their favourite dish and explain what it means to them. For their main challenge, they will give a five-minute TED Talk about their heritage, how their community and family has become an integral part of who they are and why they should represent the Miss South Africa brand. The episode ends with a photo shoot that focuses on African cultures.   Mukwevho is the founder of the dynamic So

House of BNG, one of South Africa's leading MCC brands, is thrilled to announce its continued partnership with the prestigious Miss South Africa pageant. The collaboration coincides with the launch of the exciting reality series "Crown Chasers," where Bonang Matheba, the owner of The House of BNG, will serve as a resident judge. The five episode show is set to premiere on SABC 3 this Sunday, the 9th of July at 4 pm. Since its inception in 2019, The House of BNG has established itself as the go-to luxury beverage brand, synonymous with elegance, sophistication, and glamour. The brand's sparkling wines have become a staple at premium lifestyle and entertainment events nationwide. Expressing her enthusiasm, Bonang Matheba, the founder and owner of House of BNG, stated,  ' The Miss South Africa pageant is one of my favorite events on the South African calendar. Any platform that supports and uplifts women in this country will always have my backing. Partnering with Mi

Former Miss Universe and Miss South Africa title holder Zozibini Tunzi makes her television series debut as the host of the very first Miss South Africa television show, Crown Chasers , which starts on SABC3 on Saturday, July 8, at 16h00. In the 5 x 60-minute series the Miss South Africa finalists are placed in real life scenarios that include challenges based on the four pillars of Miss South Africa – duty, championship, empowerment and beauty. A challenge winner will be chosen each week by a judging panel comprising of Bonang Matheba and Leandie du Randt as well as a weekly celebrity guest judge. In addition, at the end of each thrilling episode, the judges will vote off one of the contestants, with the seven remaining finalists going through to participate in the live grand finale on August 13. Speaking of her role in the series, Zozibini Tunzi, who made her big screen debut in last year’s The Woman King , says: “Hosting a TV series for the first time has been a beautiful expe

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