Johannesburg – Entries for Miss South Africa 2023 have opened with dramatic changes that see the inclusion of married women in the coveted pageant, organisers revealed on Tuesday.
“One of the most dramatic changes to this year’s rules regarding entrance requirements for Miss South Africa 2023 is that married women will be able to compete for the crown for the first time,” said the Miss SA Organisation.
The organisation said it has changed the rules and made it possible for “all women, straight, trans, queer, large, small, short, tall or married, and with or without children, to take part in the pageant”.
The entity added: “Married? Married with children? Engaged to be married? Divorced? No matter what an entrant’s matrimonial status is, they are now eligible to enter the Miss South Africa race to the 2023 crown”.
The nationwide search for the dynamic woman who will follow in the footsteps of the current Miss South Africa, Ndavi Nokeri, to represent her country on the international stage and become one of South Africa’s most recognisable faces and ambassadors, is now open.
The Miss South Africa competition has been through many incarnations to ensure it stays relevant, current and fresh and to make sure the Miss South Africa Organisation keeps up with the changing times.
Another addition this year is the inclusion of a ground-breaking seven-part TV series: “Crown Chasers” is a thrilling reality show showing the Miss South Africa competition as it’s never been seen it before.
“In the 7×60-minute series, those competing for the crown will be placed in real life Miss South Africa scenarios that include several challenges, based on the four pillars of Miss South Africa – duty, championship, empowerment and beauty,” said the Miss South Africa Organisation.
“All the finalists will move into Miss South Africa HQ from where they will be given tasks that will test their ability to show off their interpretation of these four pillars.
“Their entrepreneurial and business skills will be put to the test; they’ll be asked to find innovative ways to encourage tourism, to show support for female-owned businesses or to showcase aspects of their culture or heritage.”
The Miss South Africa Organisation said a challenge winner will be selected each week by a judging panel.
“The series will culminate with the live pageant finale where the winner will be crowned,” said the Miss South Africa Organisation, which said it was known globally as a pageant disruptor, challenging old precepts, constantly shifting the goalposts and making the competition more diverse and more inclusive.
As Stephanie Weil, CEO of the Miss South Africa Organisation, says: “This year we have pushed more boundaries than ever before, and we are delighted to welcome all women who are ready to step onto our leadership platform and be the next ambassador for South Africa.
“We, as women, are so many things; we can be business owners, leaders, innovators, influencers, mothers, daughters, philanthropists, role models, ambassadors, and queens all at the same time.
“Showcasing the multi-diverse nature of all of this will be at the core of the competition. Miss South Africa is no longer just a one-night pageant – viewers are really going to get to know the finalists during the television show.”
As recently as 2019, Veronika Didusenko, 24, was banned by the Miss World Organisation because she was divorced with a five-year-old son.
The striking Didusenko had won Miss Ukraine the year before and was to represent her country at Miss World.
Commenting on the dramatic entry changes, Weil said: “This is a game changer for South African women, and it’s a bonus for us as an organisation, as it means we have a much larger pool of women eligible to enter.”
Weil added: “The Miss South Africa Organisation continues to make the entry process as easy as possible which means there are no forms to download and no regional auditions to which hopefuls have to travel”.
Entrants will be required to post an introduction video on social media by using #MissSA2023 and tagging Miss South Africa and Crown Chasers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.
Those who wish to enter can simply enter on the Miss SA App (under the ENTER NOW page) or visit www.misssa.co.za, answer a number of questions, upload entry pictures (one head and shoulders and one full body image) and the link to their entry video. Entries close at 11:30 on Friday, May 5, 2023.
Those wishing to enter should watch the dedicated “How To” videos that will be released across the Miss South Africa Organisation’s official channels (websites and social media) as well as finding further details under Miss SA 2023 on the official website www.misssa.co.za.
*This article was first published in www.thebulrushes.com
