Miss South Africa (Miss SA) organisers have shut down any chance that the incoming queen will participate in the Miss Universe pageant next month.
Reigning queen Mia Le Roux will hand over her crown to her successor on 25 October. Less than a month later, the global pageant will take place on 21 November in Thailand.
MISS SA WILL NOT SEND NEW QUEEN TO MISS UNIVERSE
In a media briefing on Tuesday, 30 September, Miss SA organisers confirmed news that the incoming queen would not have the opportunity to compete at Miss Universe.
A representative said, “This year, Miss South Africa will not be competing at Miss Universe due to the timing. It requires up to three months of planning to go abroad and compete in South Africa.
“It would be impossible…and not fair for Miss South Africa to not get fully prepped for that.”
It’s unclear if Miss SA still has ties with Miss Universe or has ended its relationship with the international pageant.
This year, Miss SA also did not send a representative to Miss World and Miss Supranational, with new organisations taking over as independent licence holders.
THE LAST SOUTH AFRICAN REPRESENTATIVE
Last year, reigning Miss SA Mia Le Roux withdrew from the preliminary stages of Miss Universe, citing health concerns.
Bryoni Govender, runner-up to former Miss SA Natasha Joubert, was the last South African representative in 2023. The law graduate made the Top 20.
Prior to that, Ndavi Nokeri was in the top 16 in 2022, and Lalela Mswane was placed as second runner-up in 2021.
South Africa has three Miss Universe winners – Margaret Gardiner, Demi-Leigh Tebow (nee Nel-Peters), and Zozi Tunzi
