Miss SA organisers have postponed their 2025 edition to “a later date” in the year, pending a rebranding under new management. What does this mean for the Miss Universe pageant, which takes place in less than three months’ time?
WHO WILL REPRESENT SA AT MISS UNIVERSE?
With Miss SA indefinitely postponed, pageant fans are eager to know who will represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant, which takes place on 21 November in Thailand.
Should a new queen be crowned, they will undoubtedly have less time to prepare for the international competition.
Pageant enthusiast and YouTuber Rina Hendriks told The South African: “It is difficult to say who, if anyone, will represent South Africa. The Miss South Africa organisers have not been forthcoming when they have been confronted with questions of whether or not they even still hold the Miss Universe license to send a candidate there.
“In 2023, they got rid of the Miss World license without releasing a statement to the public.
“If they do, however, still hold the license for Miss Universe, then it is possible that they may still have the Miss South Africa 2025 pageant before Miss Universe starts in November.
“If the Miss South Africa Organisation does not host a pageant before November, it is always possible for them to appoint someone, likely the runner-up from 2024, or someone else who has not previously competed at Miss Universe”.
MIA LE ROUX CAN’T COMPETE AGAIN
If a new Miss SA is not crowned in time for Miss Universe, it’s unlikely reigning queen Mia Le Roux will compete again.
Last year, the partially-deaf winner dropped out of the competition during the preliminary stages, citing health reasons.
Like her predecessor, Natasha Joubert, who was unplaced in the 2021 edition, Mia is prohibited from entering again, as per the competition’s rules.
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Meanwhile, Miss SA organisation will now be part of the Motsepe Group of Companies, owned by Patrice Motsepe, one of SA’s wealthiest businessmen.
Earlier this month, Africa Fashion International (AFI) – the fashion partner of Miss SA – revealed that it was now the “sister company” of the beauty pageant.
“AFI and the Miss South Africa organisation are proud members of a larger, family-owned group of companies, united by a shared vision for creativity and excellence”, read a statement posted on their social media platforms.
AFI is run by Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the wife of Patrice Motsepe.
WHO SHOULD REPRESENT SA AT THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT?
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