BLOEMFONTEIN – Beauty pageants have become a notable platform in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM), providing young people with opportunities for personal growth, self-expression and leadership development – particularly through events staged around Youth Month. This was evident at two recent crowning ceremonies: the Mr and Ms Free State Elite Pageant, and the Miss Mangaung Metro Pageant. Both events saw newly crowned titleholders succeed their predecessors.

The Mr and Ms Free State Elite ceremony, held on Saturday 6 June, at the Bloemfontein City Hall, awarded 24 crowns age groups (five to 39) along with additional special awards for finalists. Four finalists received special recognition to represent the Free State province at the national final in Gauteng. They are Kananelo Pepenene, Lieka Terblanche, Bohlale Mathe, and Kesegofetse Ikaneng.

The Miss Mangaung Metro ceremony, staged at the Bloemfontein Civic Theatre on 31 May, attracted more than 40 contestants across six categories: Little Miss Petite Mangaung (five to six), Little Miss Daisy Mangaung (seven to eight), Little Miss Mangaung (nine to 10), Miss Pre-Teen Mangaung (11 to 13), Miss Teen Mangaung (14 to 17), and Miss Mangaung Metro (18 to 25). The event was held under the theme “A Celebration of Impact,” marking the pageant’s ninth edition since its inception in 2017.

Marking the milestone, inaugural winners received special recognition for their contribution to building the pageant’s legacy.
“This year’s edition highlighted achievements, including philanthropic initiatives, leadership programmes, and success stories of previous winners who have gone on to become influential figures in various industries. The Miss Mangaung Metro Pageant is more than just a competition; it is a movement that empowers individuals to make a lasting impact,” said Mokone “Chief” Leeuw, organiser of the pageant.
Through their participation in pageantry, several contestants have gone on to pursue careers as models and brand ambassadors.