Beauty Pageant Contestants

"Start each day by being thankful"

"I wanted first to prioritise my education and the purpose I had set out for myself which was to become a lawyer. By the time I entered again, I knew the power of what it takes to be a Miss South Africa and the importance of having a voice of relevance"

"Growing up in a village made me realised the importance of education. It is important for young girls and boys to be educated and to break the cycle of poverty through education. It is my wish to work with corporates and universities across South Africa to champion the power of education"

"Dreams do come true. I'm from Soweto, and despite growing up in a modest four-room house and now pursuing a master's degree at the University of Johannesburg, I've shown it's possible"

"As your Miss SA, I understand the importance of representation, because it is through seeing other women look beyond their fears and their circumstances, that I gained the courage to rise to the call. I will represent SA, in all its diversity, resilience and beauty. It really does take a village, and I am so grateful that my village showed up for me. It is now for me to work and ensure that every success of mine overflows into my country"

"Growing up in the Eastern Cape really grounded me. It taught me to remain humble and the importance of community. In Idutywa, I learnt how success is a collective effort. From drawing water to preparing meals for big family celebrations, if you want to accomplish something it starts with community"

"I would like to change that and make women and children feel safe in our country – gender equality is important"

"Even if I don't make it, I would have fulfilled my purpose"

"This crown is not just mine, it belongs to every dreamer from humble beginnings, to every girl who thought she couldn’t, but did anyway. South Africa, thank you for trusting me with your hearts. The journey doesn’t end here; it’s only the beginning"

"Impumelelo Girls Mentorship is a movement dedicated to breaking barriers and unlocking the potential of young women through mentorship. It empowers young women to excel in education by being afforded access to education and pivoting in their careers. By providing guidance, support and opportunities, the aim is to nurture the talents and aspirations of the next generation. My mission is to change mindsets, foster ambition, and create a stronger and more equitable society"

"Those experiences helped me conquer many fears and self-doubts"

"I enjoy it and love embracing my full authentic self"

"A girl from Alexandra to the Miss South Africa stage. This journey has truly been nothing short of grace, growth, and gratitude"

"The future belongs to you, you are the leaders, innovators and change makers. You are in charge of crafting your journey and become what you desire, the world is your oyster if you believe that you are possible. Your voice matters"

"Being sashed First Runner-Up at Miss South Africa is a moment I’ll cherish forever, not just for what it represents, but for what it means in God’s divine plan. Every message, every word of love and encouragement has touched my heart deeply"

"I am exactly where I’m meant to be, walking in purpose, grace, and gratitude"

"Now, being in the Top 30 means that I have an opportunity to write a new chapter that is championed by a deeper purpose - to empower young women of South Africa"

"I consider it an honour to touch people's lives"

"I encourage everyone to experience the diverse art scenes, amazing food and warmth of its people"

"I am my ancestors’ wildest dream, standing tall because of the prayers, sacrifices, and strength that came before me. And for that, I am endlessly thankful"

"When I was on-stage during the crowning moment I was thinking to myself that whoever gets this crown is so deserving of it. when you are in that moment you can just be at peace, and just let go and let God take over. Even when Qhawe and I were standing there, we even forgot that we had to turn on que because we were just so in our moment. I was thinking that the fact that I have even gotten this far is enough. Whatever happens now is all up to God"

"I don’t think people understand that you don’t necessarily need a crown to fulfill your duties. the Miss SA organisation is still going to hold my hand through and ensure that my advocacy does actually breath life into the people that I want to reach. It was such a rewarding moment for me when I got that position knowing that I’ll still be able to be within the proximity of working with the organisation and the queen as well"

"I have seen a woman glow when she heard she had tenancy rights and could not be evicted from her home of 43 years and I have comforted a domestic worker who wept on learning she had legal recourse to summary dismissal and was later awarded a six months’ salary. There are no small victories here. These are monumental life-changing moments and I want to make sure that this happens more and more. I’m a lawyer, so how can I not use my background to empower women to help themselves? All women need to know is that the law is on their side. My mission and pledge is to teach a woman about her legal rights and let her know that information is Her Way Out"

"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 Africa. My advocacy is to address and remove the gaps in the progress of women empowerment by introducing mentorship programmes focusing on business and leadership courses, entrepreneurial and job training programmes and skills development training programmes on secondary to post-tertiary levels of education for girls and women"

"It took years of hard work, sweat and tears to rise from a place of zero confidence, from once hating my complexion, my height and my figure to standing tall and proud in my truth"

"They were really amazing. I think the sisterhood that gets born in that system is so beautiful because if you are missing an earing, someone has got you. If you are missing this or that, someone is always there to help. How we were stepping into an new era and having to now hold each other hands in support and not necessarily look at each other as competition, is comforting"

"I have my moments of doubt and vulnerability just like anyone else"

"I view the prize package as a seed for my future, not an immediate reward — although I will likely buy myself something fun as well. During my reign I want to create a foundation for my literacy work that will carry on past my reign as Miss South Africa."

"just a drop in the large ocean of my amazing supporters who fuel me every single day"

"I think this time around, I really know who I am as a person. I want to show my authentic self, which includes being vulnerable"

"I wanted to try something different to challenge and push myself"

"South Africa, I have poured my heart into this journey. Every step, every late night, every moment of doubt and triumph, all leading to this final moment on that stage"

"I am really focusing on playing my part in breaking the cycle of unemployment from its root cause through addressing our illiteracy crisis. I plan on collaborating with multilingual authors, translators and illustrators to produce books and resources that are tailored to all South African languages. And to create literacy workshops for parents and teachers in underserved communities, because transformation really begins at the roots"

"I initially wrote the book for one specific child, but after seeing how it impacted her understanding of colours and counting, I wanted to make it more accessible to children. I started by self-publishing and distributing the one in isiXhosa, which I now plan to translate into all 11 official languages"

"I am incredibly excited and honoured to have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming Miss Supranational competition. I have been working tirelessly to prepare myself both mentally and physically for the competition. These preparations have included intense training sessions to enhance my physical fitness, catwalk, poise and stage presence. I have also been working with top-notch trainers to improve my communication skills and develop a strong and impactful voice. I always say that the most important thing for me when preparing for any competition is to have a positive and healthy mindset and to have put in all the necessary work"

"It taught me invaluable lessons about confidence and grace. These platforms demand more than physical beauty- it’s about owning your uniqueness and embracing it. I learned to stand tall, speak my truth and carry myself with poise. The spotlight can be intimidating, but I realised that authenticity shines brighter than any spotlight. And now, as I step into the international arena once again, I carry with me the lessons learned. I know that genuineness, resilience and an honest connection with people transcends borders. Whether I win a crown or not, I’ll continue making South Africa proud. So, here’s to dreams realised, lessons learned and the magic of representing my country on a global stage"

"But now with the support and guidance from Miss South Africa and Empower Youth Africa, we are able to do it on a bigger scale with more resources. I am so incredibly humbled"

"I have come to realise through my speech therapy sessions that language builds trust. It really has been an easy way to say, ‘I see you.’ Being multilingual helps me gain insights into the lives and experiences of different communities. It may not give me an in-depth image, but it allows me to meaningfully connect"

"It feels like I’ve won the World Cup, but I walk - I was gonna say I walk out of this, but really I walk into this as a completely different woman. But I still carry my old self into it"

"I want you guys to see the kind of courage that it takes, the kind of thought and the mindset it takes and how sometimes you really just have to be willing to bet on yourself to be able to take it like one step further"

"Most importantly, I would love to focus on how to support struggling learners and how to identify learners with delays in language or with special needs"

"As a lawyer I am passionate about empowering women and I have seen how effective our law in South Africa is when it comes to the constitution. I wanted to start an initiative that helps women because they are the most vulnerable group of people in our society and need the most protection. Her Way Out is an initiative that allows women to find their way out. It is specifically targeted at empowering women in their legal rights and helping them to find platforms to better themselves. I’ve partnered with a legal firm and we have been working with Gender Based Violence victims in the courts, and working with women-led initiatives to help them"

"The outpouring of support from fellow South Africans has been nothing short of heartwarming. Their encouragement, positive messages and unwavering belief have fuelled my determination. To every person who has cheered me on, sent kind words or simply believed in my dream, thank you. You are not just spectators, you are part of this adventure. Your love transcends borders and it’s a reminder that we’re all connected. Thank you for your support, and I can’t wait to embark on this new phase of my incredible journey"

"It’s still sinking in. I am surrounded by community and so incredibly honoured. I plan to continue the work I have already started"

"When this happens, it leads to many other problems like crime and teenage pregnancy because young people feel like they are unable to be part of a bright future"

"Leadership involves responsibility. I want to be an ambassador with deep purpose and a voice that reflects this country. I intend to take EYA very seriously during the coming year of my reign and ensure that everything I and my fellow finalists do, is anchored in impact and can be measured when I hand over"

"Being in the Faculty of Law, one of the best in the country, there was so much support and help to learn both theoretically and practically. When I finished studying, while chatting to colleagues in the industry, I realised just how privileged we are to study at UJ"

"I am passionate about creating an equitable education system in SA because I think that it is so important to ensure that every youngster in the country is given the opportunity to gain skills and resources to be a success in whatever profession they choose and that no one gets left behind"

"I’ve carried so many of you guys with me and for me it really is a testament of intentional leadership and how if you really wanna see change within the systems that you step in, you need to just start somewhere"

"I want to empower all women, no matter the issue, from those battling gender-based violence, pensioners, women with health problems, professional women, mothers, grandmothers and daughters. Women are facing severe issues which stops their progress in life, and the time is now to recognise that women’s rights are human rights and that women can become whatever they want to be. In my legal career, I have witnessed the disparity which exists between men and women and the existing patriarchy enforcing power over women, which urgently requires our attention and voice for change"