The Miss SA pageant came to a climax this Saturday with their highly-anticipated finale event.
Former Miss SA Lalela Mswane crowned her successor at a star-studded ceremony at Sun International's SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria.
The competition was stiff amongst the top 10 ladies - including Anarzade Omar, Ayanda Thabethe, Itumeleng Parage, Keaoleboga Nkashe, Lebogang Mahlangu, Luvé Meyer, Luyanda Zuma, Ndavi Nokeri, Pearl Ntshehi, and Tasmyn Jack - and after nailbiting questions, swimsuit, and eveningwear rounds - the Top 5, Top 3, and Top 2 were announced before the winner was given her title.
Ultimately, it was Limpopo-born Ndavi Nokeri who won the people’s vote and took home the crown.
Here are 5 things to know about the newly-crowned Miss South Africa:
She hails from Limpopo
Ndavi hails proudly from Tzaneen, Limpopo. During the pageant, she expressed how the small town has been a major pillar of support during her Miss SA journey. "Having the support of my province and its people means so much to me. They are the shoulders I am standing on today. I know that I have to show up 100 percent every time. I am proof that even someone from a small village and humble beginnings can achieve their ambitions and show that their dreams are valid," Nokeri said after making the top 10 finalists.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree
The 23-year-old graduated from the University of Pretoria with a degree in BCom Investment Management. Prior to embarking on the Miss SA pageant, she held a job at an asset management firm.
She was crowned Miss Jozi 2019
Ndavi is no stranger to the pageant stage. In 2019, at just 20 years old, she won the Miss Jozi title. She took part in the competition whilst studying at the University of Pretoria.
She took two years to prepare for Miss SA
Ndavi did not take the Miss SA pageant lightly. In fact, she took two years to invest and build on herself before she felt ready to compete for the crown.
“"For me, it was a matter of being worthy for the platform and being here because I understand it is a big platform and sitting here you really have to use your voice to either represent or to change mindsets or to educate. So, for me, it was really important to first invest in myself and that's why I believe I needed that time and sitting here I do feel that I'm worthy as Harnaaz [Sandhu] said, all the other women were worthy because we all are so passionate about the causes that we stand for," she explained.
She will advocate for education equity
Through her reign, Ndavi will advocate for education equity for all children and students in South Africa. She revealed that her failure in certain aspects at school is what helped her grow and fuelled her ambition.
“Growing up, I struggled with mathematics in school. With every bad result I received, I started believing and accepting that it was something that I just couldn’t do until I decided to approach it with a different attitude,” she said.
“I decided that I am the author of my own story and so I redefined myself as a woman who is capable of doing all things she sets her mind to with excellence. This is the attitude that I carry with me into every journey and it has shaped the person I am proud to be today,” she continued.
