Fashioning Modern Africanism

M iss Universe South Africa, Bryoni Govender, has revealed her farewell gown and the national costume she will wear when she represents South Africa at the  72 nd  Miss Universe pageant which takes place in El Salvador on November 18. Her national gown – by acclaimed KwaZulu-Natal designer Casey Jeanne – celebrates her Indian South African heritage while also allowing Govender to take centre stage. The reveal took place at  Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club’s Old Oak venue with  Govender’s family in attendance, including her father Deven, her mother Shireen and her grandmother, Mangany Govender. Miss South Africa Organisation’s Creative Director, Werner Wessels, explains that the national costume is of critical importance when it comes to showcasing the country of the pageant contestant, and is also one of the favourite events for Miss Universe fans and followers. “This year’s national costume is an African-Indian fusion and a celebration of Bryoni’s  heritage. It was inspire

Miss Universe South Africa Bryoni Govender has launched her countrywide advocacy campaign  Her Way Out,  ahead of her participation at the 72 nd  Miss Universe pageant which takes place in El Salvador on November 18. Govender, who was named Miss Universe South Africa at the Miss South Africa 2023 finale, has a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Johannesburg and was admitted as an attorney in July this year. She has pledged to be an ambassador for women’s rights during the course of her reign with her campaign,  Her Way Out , the main objective of which will be to take up the cudgels on behalf of women everywhere and help educate them on their legal rights. The human rights organisation, the Centre for Constitutional Rights, reports that the femicide rate in South Africa is five times the global average and, according to a United Nations report, South Africa ranks first for rapes per capita. To make her campaign as effective as possible, Govender has teamed up with the Social

Bryoni Govender, who placed as first runner-up at the Miss South Africa 2023 finale last month, is delighted to be representing South Africa at the 72 nd   Miss Universe Competition which takes place in El Salvador on November 18. The pageant was last held in the Central American country in 1975. Govender was named Miss Universe South Africa , and will be the first person of Indian heritage to represent the country since  Miss South Africa 1997 Kerishnie Naiker was placed in the Top 10 at the Miss Universe pageant in 1998. “I have always believed that being different is a superpower and becoming the second South African of Indian descent to represent our beautiful country on the international stage is a testament to that fact. I will be giving the competition my all and have already started extensive preparations. “I cannot describe how excited I am to start this Miss Universe journey and, as this new chapter unfolds, I am fully committed to my support of   women equality in South Afri