Failure does not define a person’s true potential. This is what Mrs SA hopeful Emihle Heli hopes to impart to young people from her church community in Philippi and beyond.
The mother of two is among a group of 100 women from across the country vying for this year’s Mrs SA crown in November.
The women were selected as semi-finalists after a rigorous screening process. In July these 100 will be trimmed to just 30, with further cuts ahead of the grand finale in November. Contestants are required to engage in numerous community-development initiatives and Mrs SA campaigns. Failure or progress in the contest depends on the number of votes they receive.
Heli, who grew up in Cala, Eastern Cape, carries the dreams and hopes of many young women from Philippi.
In an interview with City Vision, she expressed her commitment to women empowerment, particularly young women between age 13 and 30, describing herself as a “community activist”.
The 25-year-old businesswoman and founder of Sisterhood in Christ said Philippi has many young women in need of support and inspiration. Through her faith-based organisation she hoped to create a new generation of leaders and independent women. Every Saturday Heli sits down with the group to discuss several life topics, in this way promoting public speaking and boosting confidence. “I also encourage them to think big and start businesses instead of waiting for opportunities.”
She saw the Mrs SA pageant as an opportunity to break new ground, not just for her but for the community of Philippi.
“I am chasing my dream to become a better person and an individual with a purpose. I also want to be the best version of myself. I also want to inspire young people to know anything is possible.”
No stranger to beauty pageants, it is Heli’s first attempt at Mrs SA. This journey began at primary school and continued until 2019, the year before she got married. Heli has spent the last few years building her family and raising her two children.
Her mission now is to help young people find their centre. “‘Find your gift,’ I tell them. ‘Find out what it is you love and use it to help other people.’ I also encourage them to serve others.”
In a statement Joani Johnson, CEO of Mrs SA, said select semi-finalists’ journeys begin with an intensive programme of personal development workshops, setting the tone for the year ahead for them as part of the acclaimed women-empowerment programme.
These include sessions on personal branding, goal-setting, and leadership, as well as a professional photoshoot.
“Watching women step out of their comfort zones and into the spotlight gives us valuable insight into their potential and their courage to grow,” Johnson pointed out, “which is why we feel the live public castings are so important. However, cognisant of the financial realities facing families, we specifically want to extend the live castings to other provinces this year to bring the selection process directly to women in different communities.
“This updated approach reflects our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and celebrating real, bona fide South African women from every corner of the country.” She offered the 2025 semi-finalists warm congratulations on their achievement and looked forward to witnessing their growth and successes in the coming months.
“Every woman here said ‘yes’ to themselves and to making this their time to shine, and seeing the fire inside each of them was so inspiring. These are definitely women to watch as the next generation of changemakers.”
The public can vote for Heli by sending an SMS with her name and surname to 47587 or visit the Mrs SA Facebook page for more details.
