JOHANNESBURG, 30 June 2024 – The organisers of Miss World South Africa have announced the top 10 finalists for the 2024 edition who will also battle it out for the grand finale in October so that one of them can represent the country at the Miss World finals in December.

After casting the net wide in all nine provinces in search for a young lady who wishes to follow in the footsteps of reigning queen, Dr Claude Mashego. The organisers received more than 350 entries from all nine provinces.

FINALISTS

• Here are the 10 finalists.
• Nande Mabala, 26 a model, social and media entrepreneur from  Cape Town, Western Cape,  who believes that the most successful people possess five soft skills, courage, communication skills , discipline, leadership and resilience;
• Lynique Odendaal, 22,  a music therapist from Wonderboom, Pretoria, Gauteng, is committed to address the multifaceted challenges facing vulnerable children by uplifting and empowering them;
• Tshiamo Setlhare,  26, an Occupational Therapist from Mahikeng, North West, believes the Miss World platform would help her create awareness on various mental health conditions and reduce the stigma and marginalisation of people with mental illnesses ;
• Neo Nkhumane, 22, a Communications lecturer at North-West University from Gauteng whose ambition is to address pressing social issues facing the country while also advancing her studies in communications;
• Ximiyeto Makhubele, 21, a tech developer from Giyani, Limpopo, wants to use technology to service delivery solutions for people;
• Romanda Hombir, 25 a Clinical Audiologist from Gauteng, would like to influence the drafting of policies and legislation on the accessibility and quality of healthcare services for all, despite socioeconomic status, age or disability;
• Zoalize Jansen van Rensburg, 18, a digital and marketing executive at Scuderia, Ferrari South Africa, from Pretoria, Gauteng, believes that every person can contribute to the greater good of the world, that a dream is what keeps the world turning one’s hopes.
•  Amber Marais, 22, from Bloemfontein, Free State, a volunteer, hockey coach, is a patient, friendly, passionate individual, who enjoys seeing others succeed;
• Thembelihle Mnguni, a 25 year-old model and  Electrical Engineering student from KwaZulu-Natal,  who aspires to empower communities through renewable and sustainable energy and.
• Jesmika Singh, 25, a University of Cape Town Masters student from Kwazulu-Natal, whose academic record and research on Breast Cancer Biotechnology and Immunotherapy, has earned her awards and accolades who wants to become a scientist of international repute and discover a cure for breast cancer.

GLOBAL AWARENESS AND ACTIVISM

The full profiles of the finalists and their pictures can be downloaded from the Miss World South Africa website, www.missworldsa.com.

Carol Bouwer, the license holder of Miss World South Africa and President of Miss World South Africa Organisation Bouwer said her organisation is looking for a candidate who can promote humanitarian objectives, global awareness and activism.

“The finalists will soon attend boot camp sessions on various pageant demands such as deportment, charm, poise, general knowledge, charitable involvement including how they can be ambassadors of the Beauty with a Purpose ethos of the Miss World Organisation,” said Bouwer.

Dr Mashego, the 25-year-old from Bushbuckridge, Limpopo, was crowned Miss World South Africa last October at a glittering pageant finale at the State Theatre, Pretoria.  

She represented South Africa at the Miss World pageant in March this year Mumbai, India, and was placed in the top 40 amongst contestants from more than 120 countries and territories.

The London-based Miss World Organisation, will soon announce where  Miss World 2024 will be held.

“It is important to emphasise that the selection of Miss World South Africa will be focused on young women who are steeped in nation building. We look forward to October 5 when our wonderful inaugural Queen, Claude will crown her successor,” said Bouwer.

Miss World – one of the longest-established global pageants, has used the Beauty with a Purpose ethos to raise money for organisations that support disadvantaged and disabled children and other deserving causes.