Miss South Africa may never go back to being a one-night pageant. Next year’s participants will also chase the crown in a TV reality series ahead of the main event.
Miss South Africa CEO Stephanie Weil said a “bigger and even more impressive” 13-part series of Crown Chasers is set to be broadcast by the SABC next year.
This year, contestants had to move into the competition’s headquarters to film five hour-long episodes during which they had to deal with various challenges.
These were based on the pageant’s “four pillars” — duty, championship, empowerment and beauty. A challenge winner was selected each week by the judging panel.
Tonight, one of the seven remaining finalists — Anke Rothmann, Bryoni Govender, Homba Mazaleni, Jordan van der Vyver, Melissa Nayimuli, Nande Mabala and Natasha Joubert — will be crowned Miss South Africa.
“The Miss South Africa organisation has become known around the world as pageant disrupters because as a company it constantly challenges old precepts,” said Weil.
“Crown Chasers made its debut on the Miss South Africa app last year and was so successful that a full-blown TV show was commissioned … This week it was announced that the Miss South Africa 2022 live pageant has been nominated for a South African Film & Television Awards (Safta).”
The Miss South Africa organisation is delighted with the response. Television viewers have embraced the series and enjoyed really getting to know the contestants and see the work that goes in behind the scenes
— Stephanie Weil
Weil said contestants were “upskilled and shaped into champions for women’s rights, thought leaders, brand ambassadors and savvy career women with the tools to fulfil their chosen destiny”.
She said Miss South Africa had followed suite when the Miss Universe contest changed the entry requirements to allow married women to take part.
“Now women of all shapes and sizes, with or without children and married, single or divorced, can enter the competition.”
One of this year’s contestants, Van der Vyver, is married.
Weil said tonight’s show is 30 minutes longer than in previous years.
“Every year we try and do something a little bit different although it does follow a certain pattern with swimsuits and leisure wear, evening gowns. It is directed by the same team from last year who have been nominated for a Safta for the show,” said Weil.
This year’s judges are reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Nola Gabriel, actress and presenter Leandie du Randt, actress Thuso Mbedu, television personality Devi Sankaree Govender and former Miss South Africa Jo-Ann Strauss.
Du Randt said she was looking for the woman that has a “Miss South Africa feel to her” when she enters a room.
“Someone who must be able to be the best version of herself at all times, and someone who is memorable, has a presence and a purpose in her heart to serve and lead the country in being the best it can be,” said Du Randt.
Govender said: “I’ll be looking for the one that has intelligence, frankness, boldness and a strong drive to bring about social change, as well as agility and a sharp sense of humour.”
Miss South Africa 2023 will wear a coronet that its creators, Nungu Diamonds, call “Mowana, the tree of life”.
“Mowana is the first crown of its kind in South Africa and is made up of over 800 stones comprising diamonds, gemstones and cubic zirconia, the biggest weighing 15 carats,” said Kealeboga Pule, CEO and founder of Nungu Diamonds.
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