Thirty remarkable married women have stepped into the national spotlight following the tightly contested Mrs South Africa semi-finals at the Hotel Sky in Sandton. The announcement capped three days of interviews and private workshops in which dozens of hopefuls were pared down to the Top 30 contenders who will compete for the crown in November.
The semi-finals week, hosted by Hotel Sky, kicked off on 02 July with a few impactful empowerment workshop sessions. Judging Day followed with swimwear judging and closed interview rounds where judges looked at a variety of criteria like community impact, leadership capacity, and public-speaking skills. Contestants returned the next day for rehearsals before stepping under the lights for Friday’s semi-finals showcase.
Under the visionary leadership of CEO Joani Jacobs, Mrs South Africa – powered by iME – grew from a pageant for married women into a female empowerment, skills development, and professional mentorship programme on-par with the best in the world. Today, it is known affectionately as an ‘MBA of life’ that hundreds of women flock to every year to discover and grow into who they want to be.
Jacobs says, “Every entrant arrives with a story worth telling. Our job is to amplify those stories, and share their messages of courage, hope, and purpose, while equipping them to become leaders in their own spheres, to bring about change and inspire others.
“This year’s batch of thirty were simply astonishing. We’ve seen them go from women already beaming with confidence but unsure how best to direct their strengths, into powerful leaders who can command a room and bring about change through sheer force of will. Each of the semi-finalists who had been with us from the beginning have the ability to impact their communities and help change the world forever. We look forward to seeing what else the journey of life holds for them.”
Friday night’s semi-final showcase was opened by master of ceremonies, television host, and entrepreneur Ayanda Thabethe. She was accompanied by singer-songwriter Lloyd Cele. Reigning queen Erin-Jane Miller offered words of inspiration and guidance for the women on stage, encouraging them to reach further, soar higher, and absorb all that the programme and its mentors have to offer. By the end of the night, with baited breath, the 2025 semi-finalists were narrowed down to the final top 30.
The 2025 Mrs South Africa finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
Name
Surname
Age
Town
Province
Anita
Momberg
46
Kuilsrivier
Western Cape
Bontle
Manana
35
Pretoria
Gauteng
Carika
Bebb
44
Cape Town
Western Cape
Czar
Motsuenyane
39
Randburg
Gauteng
Emihle
Heli
25
Kuilsrivier
Western Cape
Jessica
Erasmus
40
Pretoria
Gauteng
Lebo
Mfeka
43
Krugersdorp
Gauteng
Lioni
Birch
42
Roodepoort
Gauteng
Manani
Botes
37
Tzaneen
Limpopo
Meg
Harvey
39
Bryanston
Gauteng
Miliswa
Jordan
47
Midrand
Gauteng
Rea
Seabela
39
Boksburg
Gauteng
Rechaux
Browne
44
Cape Town
Western Cape
Rona
Hogins
40
Krugersdorp
Gauteng
Samantha
Gillion
41
Gordons Bay
Western Cape
Sarah
Bond
34
Durban
KZN
Sarah
Louw
36
Pretoria
Gauteng
Sarah
Morgan Walker
38
Durban
KZN
Sinothile
Kubu
40
Vaal Park
Free State
Siyasanga
Mophethe
39
Bloemfontein
Free State
Stellie
Taute
46
Mossel Bay
Western Cape
Talitha
Oosthuizen
42
Edenvale
Gauteng
Taryn
Raubenheimer
34
Bedfordview
Gauteng
Thato
Butelezi
37
Brits
North-West
Verusca
Franzman
35
Vredenburg
Western Cape
Verushka
Singh
39
Steyn City
Gauteng
Wendy
Van Zyl
55
Waterkloof
Gauteng
Wilmarie
Kriel
36
Cape Town
Western Cape
Yvette
Muller
52
Somerset West
Western Cape
Zaza
Letsholo
43
Kwamhlanga
Mpumalanga
A first step on the final stretch
That Saturday, the top thirty attended a strategy workshop led by the Mrs South Africa leadership, mentorship teams, sponsors, and industry coaches who addressed press interviews, personal branding, and public-speaking fundamentals, among others. Sunday brought cameras, lights, and a full creative crew for the first official photoshoot. Contestants will use these photos for their traditional and social media campaigns going forward.
Beyond self-development, philanthropy remains at the heart of the Mrs South Africa programme. From here, every contestant must host a fundraiser for one of the pageant’s two official partner charities – the South Africa Animal Cancer Association (SAACA) and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). Last year’s group raised over R300,000, with the Class of 2025 already setting plans in motion to surpass that figure..
While the finalists prepare for the finals, the seasoned selection committee will continue monitoring their progress closely. Principal judge Matapa Maila brings two decades of supply-chain leadership to the table; Jacqueline Ferns, Mrs South Africa 2020, adds an entrepreneurial touch; tech innovator Nivi Grogor contributes digital-skills insight; physician and former Johannesburg mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse offers a public-service view; and current Mister Supranational Dr Fezile Mkhize champions holistic wellness.
This year’s Mrs South Africa pageant – powered by iME – is thriving thanks to the support of its dedicated backers: PR Worx, Chery Krugersdorp, Skin Renewal, Lamelle, Hirsch’s Home store, Brentoni Eyewear, BTL Aesthetics, Slimz, PKF Octagon, Hotel Sky, iStyle, Hair Academy of South Africa, Alberton, Wild Coast Sun, Action Coach, Collagen Lift Paris, Catrice, Vitalefemme, Busamed, and Alvi Armani.
