{"id":301270,"date":"2023-06-14T04:02:43","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T02:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/authentic-women-step-up-20230613\/"},"modified":"2023-06-14T04:02:43","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T02:02:43","slug":"authentic-women-step-up-20230613","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/authentic-women-step-up-20230613\/","title":{"rendered":"Authentic women step up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Five women from the Free State who are semifinalists in the 2023 Mrs South Africa (Mrs SA) pageant are waiting with bated breath for 7 July. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event held on this day will culminate in the announcement of finalists \u2013 one of which will have the crown bestowed on her in November. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Free State candidates are Alicia Stols and Ntshebo Pokela, who are both from Bloemfontein; Madikgoele Lobaka from Parys; Lizzy Molelekoa from Welkom; as well as Carien Zwart from Kroonstad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Previous winners include Jacqueline Ferns, Matapa Maila, Nicole Capper and the reigning queen, Palesa Matjekane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As far as the Miss South Africa (Miss SA) pageant is concerned, organisers have introduced a major change: permitting married women, as well as mothers, to enter the contest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The decision was confirmed on 10 May after it had initially been announced to the greater public last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joani Johnson, chief executive officer (CEO) of Mrs SA, said the decision had arisen from the fact that the two pageants complement each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Miss SA pageant is open to candidates under the age of 28 years; while the Mrs SA pageant, in contrast, is for women up to 55 years old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Johnson, the latter contest is recognised as one of the country\u2019s leading and most well-supported pageants for married women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMiss SA and Mrs SA serve as important counterparts, both playing a significant role in supporting women through various phases of their lives, and highlighting their strength, talent, and perseverance as sources of inspiration for others,\u201d said Johnson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs Mrs SA, our role is to create the female ambassadors of tomorrow, which is why we aim to celebrate authentic, bonafide women,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe strive to uplift and showcase #EveryWoman, celebrating true beauty in all its forms \u2013 beauty which does not conform to any specific body type or age but is rooted in strength, confidence and talent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd once they have entered, we seek to offer our contestants a complete life-transforming journey that gives them the tools needed to become the bold voices of tomorrow,\u201d said Johnson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pageant aims to provide all its participants with the necessary coaching, skills training and networking opportunities to help transform their lives and careers, and 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