Miss SA 2019 finalists diversity

Miss SA 2019 finalists

South Africa is a rainbow nation, literally. While other countries have one or two official languages, we have 13. The 2011 census done by the STATISTICS SA totaled Indigenous South Africans at 76.4%, White at 9.1%, Colored at 8.9%, Asian at 2.5%, and Other/Unspecified at 0.5%.  Our skin tones range anywhere between deep, dark skin to white, light skin. Miss South Africa in the previous years has tried to minimize the diversity issues in the Miss SA finalists. They succeeded to a certain degree, but the Miss SA 2019 Finalists are the most diverse group of contestants we have had in what seems like forever.

We still NEED to see a plus size Miss SA finalist, An Albino Miss SA finalist, a short Miss SA finalist etc. And while that is happening: We want to be able to hear the Miss SA finalist speak their indigenous languages on TV.

That being said; Miss SA 2019 finalists diversity levels are rising. Change is coming, its still not here though. We getting there. Finally! No more are black Miss SA finalists ‘required’ to wear a weave while competing. The amount of Afro, ethic hair seen on the black finalists is exciting. And while this isn’t the first time Miss SA Finalists have looked their ethnic original selves, its nice seeing a recurring trend.

1 Chuma Matsaluka is a 21-year-old from Nyanga, Cape Town who is in her third year of a BA Degree at UCT. In most of her images on Instagram, Chuma is rocking a very healthy Afro.  Majoring in anthropology, industrial sociology, and political studies. Chuma enjoys hiking, “going on coffee dates with myself”, reading and spending time with family and friends. Her guilty pleasure is watching the Crime and Investigation channel while tucking into ice cream.

2. Kgothatso Dithebe is a 24-year-old Centurion LLB student with a unique facial birthmark that has taught her resilience.  Growing up, Kgothatso’s birthmark made her feel insecure and often being ridiculed by her peers, she wants to bring hope to those who “feel mistreated, misplaced or misunderstood”. She wants to show others that being different can be a blessing.  She believes in the matro ‘ Believe in yourself and you will be unstopabble’.

3. Xia Narain has walked runways in South Africa and Turkey and the 23-year-old from Chatsworth, Durban also teaches ramp walking.  Passionate about inspiring self-esteem at a modeling school. She also has a Bachelor Degree in Social Science and plans to do her honours in clinical psychology next year. Xia’s ideal dinner table would include Madiba, Princess Diana, Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, and Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Senn.

4. Miss SA 2019 finalists diversity level 100 percent sound engineer, Noluthando Bennett, the dreadlocks queen, is a 24-year-old multi-media and web design freelancer from Kagiso in Krugersdorp. Inspired by Jacqui Mofokeng (Miss SA 1993) and US filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Noluthando loves to read and watch documentaries when she isn’t in front of the camera.

5. Zanele Phakathi is a 20-year-old UJ student from Soweto. Affectionately known as Zaza, she has more than 70 pageant titles to her name. Zanele was involved in a car accident last year and lost the hearing in her left ear but hasn’t let it interfere with how she lives her life. In her spare time, you’ll find her curled up with a book – and a slab of chocolate.

6. The gorgeous Loren Leigh Jenneker is a 24-year-old aspiring forensic accountant from Centurion in Pretoria. Loren is working towards a BCom in finance at UJ while tutoring kids who struggle to read. Her guilty treat is a milk-tart cronut, is an avid book collector and loves traveling and hiking.  She is also a very well know model at SA FASHION WEEK. Gracing the ERRE fashion shows regularly.

7. Keabetswe Kanyane is a 25-year-old mala mogodu loving analyst from Pretoria.  Currently working on her BCom honours at the University of Johannesburg, Kea loves the gym and also enjoys entertaining, cooking and planning game nights. She loves gospel music and binge watching The Walking Dead.  Yaaasss!!! A girl that loves Horror!!! A girl after our own hearts.

8. Sasha-Lee Olivier is a 26-year-old, model from Alberton, Johannesburg. Sasha-Lee is pursuing a double major in marketing and psychology at Wits. 
She enjoys fishing and is an art lover and can often be found in a gallery or museum. 
She’s a proud Bey Hive member and loves cheesecake while binging on her favourite TV show, Big Bang Theory.  A comedy Queen can sit with us.

9. Zozibini Tunzi is a 25-year-old completing her BTech in PR from Cape Town. Her role models are her parents and Caster Semenya, whom she’d love to meet. Zozibini is a hard-core Marvel fan, was a Game of Thrones addict and enjoys eating out. We love this Queens natural and short black hair.

10. Eloïse van der Westhuizen is a 24-year-old merchandise planner from Panorama in Cape Town. She has a BCom honours degree from the University of Stellenbosch. Eloïse lists outgoing Miss SA Tamaryn Green as her role model – Tamaryn’s #MissSA2018campaign, Break the Stigma, and opening up about her journey with TB helped Eloïse open up about her own TB battle.

11. Sibabalwe Gcilitshana is a 24-year-old parliamentary officer from Bellville in Cape Town. A researcher for Equal Education (EE), Siba is inspired by Cynthia Shange, who won the Miss Black SA title in 1972 and became the first black South African to enter Miss Universe. Siba loves singing, finds her zen with meditation and hiking and has downtime binging on Breaking Bad and Killing Eve. 

12. Errin Brits is a 22-year-old LLB student from Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg. Her role models include former public protector Thuli Madonsela and Peggy-Sue Khumalo, who was crowned Miss SA in 1996 and is now a successful businesswoman. Errin loves hip-hop and Ed Sheeran, eating chocolate and spending time in the library.

13. Lisa Stoffela is a 26-year-old pizza lover from Morningside in Johannesburg. This BCom graduate and owner of a small pizza takeaway business loves tucking into pizza and pasta. Lisa loves spending time with family and friends, working out at the gym and experimenting with flavours in the kitchen.

14. Beulah Baduza is a 23-year-old aspiring lawyer completing her LLB degree at the University of Pretoria. 
Beulah loves working out, singing, traveling, cycling, watching Netflix and reading. If she could invite six people to dinner they would be her mom, Naomi Campbell, Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Serena Williams. 

15. Danielle Wallace is a 26-year-old avid hiker and holder of a BSc degree from Cape Town. She worked in marketing as a brand manager before leaving to further her modeling career. 
Danielle believes in balance and loves spending times outdoors, but never says no to staying in her pajamas all day and binging Netflix. 

16. Nompumelelo Maduna is a 24-year-old private banker from Rockville in Soweto. Her goal is to be the Miss SA to inspire and empower others by showing anything is possible if you work hard. This University of Johannesburg graduate keeps fit by playing netball and golf and teaches confidence building and etiquette at a modeling school. 

Read more celebrity stories HERE: