Ntandokayise Kunene was crowned the new Miss South Africa (Miss SA) at a glittering ceremony at Carnival City on March 19. The master of ceremonies for the evening was Tebogo “Proverb” Thekisho.
For Kunene becoming Miss South Africa has been a dream she has had since she was six years old. Winning her first beauty pageant at age 4 she relates how she envisioned herself taking the crown when she watched Karishne Naicker becoming Miss South Africa. This honours education student at Wits is eager to start with her responsibilities as reigning Miss SA. She says she wants to motivate the youth to dream bigger dreams for themselves and to work hard to achieve them. She is particularly passionate about education and wants to visit schools in the remotest parts of the country to let the youth know that it is possible to be all that you can be. Your future is not defined by your environment. Coming from Mkhondlo a rural village in Mpumalanga this proud daughter of the province of the rising sun says she wants to make her province; her family and her country proud.
Her story is testament to the power of having a vision and an unwavering trust in the Lord.
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This is what she wrote the morning of the pageant ‘Everything under the sky has a time, seasons and is the will of God. Going in today. Whatever happens I am content knowing that’s Gods will, will prevail. iNtandoyenkosi izokwenzeka (The Lord’s will be done”
I have always trusted God with my journey in life and I will continuously do so, she says.
Judging the pageant were magazine editor, poet and writer Kojo Baffoe; actress and TV personality Sophie Ndaba; Bloemfontein designer Casper Bosman and magazine editor and style icon Pnina Fenster. Basetsana was also scheduled to judge the Miss SA pageant but she unfortunately could not continue as a judge after she hurt her foot at her son’s school.
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Kunene won herself prizes of R2-million including cash, a car and various bursaries to give out to deserving recipients during her reign.
Elizabeth Molapo from Bloemfontein and Taylor-Skye Robinson won the titles of runner up and second princess respectively.
Congratulations to Ntando ….. what an amazing honour! And how wonderful that she has publicly testified to her faith and trust in God in her personal life.