A radiant Shudufhadzo Musida was crowned Miss South Africa 2020 at the glittering pageant finale held for the first time at the Table Bay Hotel in the Mother City last night.
The 24-year-old – that
hails from Ha-Masia in
Limpopo – has a Bachelor of Social Sciences in
Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Pretoria. She is
currently doing her BA Honours in International Relations at the University of
Witwatersrand. She will
receive R1 million in cash as well as a further R2 million worth of
sponsorships and prizes, including the use of a luxury Sandton apartment and a
Mercedes-Benz cabriolet for a year.
First runner-up was medical doctor, Thato Mosehle (25) from Klerksdorp in the
North West that received R250 000 in cash. Second runner-up,
Natasha
Joubert (23), a B Com graduate from Pretoria, Gauteng, collected R100 000.
For the first time in the history of the Miss
South Africa pageant, the trio will represent the country at the world’s three
most prestigious pageants. Previously, the Miss South Africa Organisation has
sent a representative to both Miss Universe and Miss World, but will also now
be fielding a candidate to Miss Supranational. It will only be revealed at a
later date which contestant will go to which pageant.
Shudufhadzo’s mother, Thandi, is a real estate agent
and she has a 13-year-old sister Zwonka.
In her Miss South Africa acceptance speech, Musida said:
“It took an entire
village to get me here and I would like to thank all of you for being my
village. I stand here today as your Miss South Africa with immense pride and
joy to be representing such a beautiful nation – one of the first Venda women,
but certainly not the last – to become Miss South Africa. I stand here as an
advocate for educational and economic empowerment of women and children and
mental health awareness, honoured to be an ambassador of this beautiful nation.
“Through this
platform, I plan to continue and build on the beautiful and powerful legacy
left by former Miss South Africa title holders, and continue to carry the baton
of women empowerment that the Miss South Africa Organisation is built on and
continues to strive for,” she said.
“I plan to bring
more awareness to mental health, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas,
because I truly believe that we need to work on the mind for any change to come
about in this country. I plan to mobilise various stakeholders and the nation
so we can bring about educational empowerment through the tackling of issues
such as period poverty among young girls, workshops that teach children about
the importance of mental health from a young age and mentorship programmes for
young women so that they can be empowered to be agents of their own future,”
she added.
“I will continue
the fight against food insecurity in rural communities because children can
only be their best at school when their basic needs are met. I believe that all
of this will continue the efforts of bringing about economic empowerment in
this country as more children will be given a fair chance at becoming active
members of the economy through educational empowerment.
“This journey has
been one of the highlights of my life – one that I will never forget and
cherish for as long as I live. Before this competition started, I had dreamed
of helping women and children and this platform has made that a reality even
before the crown was placed on my head. This platform has not only empowered me,
but caused a ripple effect that has empowered others too. It has empowered a
nation of girls just like me and shows that all dreams are valid irrespective
of your background. My life has been changed forever and the lives of the
generations that come after me, so for that – Ndo livhuwa.”
The Miss South Africa
2020 judges were reigning Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, queen of SA talk and radio jock, Anele Mdoda, previous
Miss South Africa title holder (1996) and businesswoman, Peggy-Sue
Khumalo, actress and entrepreneur, Leandie du Randt and actress, Kim
Engelbrecht.
