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Meet The Miss SA 2023 Top 30

The Miss South Africa 2023 pageant is underway and this year history has been named as for the first time ever we see two married women included in the competition.

Miss SA 2020 runner-up Natasha Joubert makes a coming, this time with hopes to be crowned Miss SA 2023. Other familiar faces in the Top 30 include Keaoleboga Nkashe who was a Top 10 finalist in 2022. Jordan Van der Vyver, 2020 Top 10, Melissa Nayimuli Top 10 in 2020, while Bryoni Govender made the Top 12 in 2018.

This years Top 30 finalist represent each of South Africa’s nine provinces: Gauteng leads the field with nine contestants, with two from Tshwane; the Western Cape has five; KwaZulu-Natal has four; while three contestants represent the Eastern Cape and North West each; the Northern Cape and Limpopo each have two while Mpumalanga and Free State have one.

This year the pageant allowed married women and those with children to enter. Contestants Jordan van der Vyver and Nicole Eksteen are married, while Rozelle Bester has a son.

Meet the Top 30 contestants below:

Ané Oosthuysen (25)

Ané, from Vanderbijlpark, Vaal Triangle in Gauteng, is a primary school teacher and a four-time graduate with degrees in Psychology and Medical Sociology. She is a multifaceted woman with a big passion for bringing about change in her community. Working with the youth has shown her that issues related to bullying and living up to societal expectations are so prevalent in our society, and there is a real need to empower and educate the youth. She hopes to be this vessel for change.

Ané Oosthuysen

Ané Oosthuysen
Photo: Supplied

Anelisa Nxele (22)

Anelisa, from iNanda, Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, is a model and graduated with a Social Sciences degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, majoring in Economics. She defines herself as purposeful, gracious and a powerhouse with a go-getter mindset. She enjoys watching beauty and lifestyle content and would love to meet the first black African billionaire, Patrice Motsepe and have conversations about mitigating poverty through sustainable community development.

Anelisa Nxele

Anelisa Nxele
Photo: Supplied

Angie Mkwanazi (23)

Angie, from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, is a Bachelor of Commerce graduate from the University of Pretoria. She intends to use her qualification to get into decision-making rooms to be a voice for the many communities that raised her. She is a huge Big Bang Theory fan, believes she is hilarious and enjoys Eskort bacon only.

Angie Mkwanazi

Angie Mkwanazi
Photo: Supplied

Anke Rothmann (23)

Anke is a pharmacist intern representing the Northern Cape. She obtained her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from North-West University in Potchefstroom. She loves being spontaneous, going on adventures, watching Friends, and listening to Taylor Swift. Anke aspires to be someone who can help others redefine what is important and meaningful in life and inspire them to attach worth to more than just what is external.

Anke Rothmann

Anke Rothmann
Photo: Supplied

Barbara Moagi (22)

Barbara, from Mahikeng in North West, is a digital content creator and second-year digital marketing student at Vega School. She is passionate about using storytelling as a force for good and describes herself as versatile — ready and equal for anything. She loves a good dinner dish for breakfast, particularly “chotlho le ting”, and, given the chance, she’d share her meal with Michelle Obama.

Barbara Moagi

Barbara Moagi
Photo: Supplied

Bryoni Govender (26)

Bryoni is from Johannesburg and is a qualified lawyer working as a trainee associate while awaiting admission to become an attorney. She describes herself as graceful, ambitious and courageous and loves a good mutton curry on the weekend. She adores animals but dogs are her favourite. She also loves travelling and would like to have a conversation with Angelina Jolie because of the way she uses her platform as an actor for women’s empowerment by shining a light on women’s and girls’ rights around the world.

Bryoni Govender

Bryoni Govender
Photo: Supplied

Carmen Barnard (24)

Carmen is representing Gauteng. She is a model, dog lover and has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of South Africa. Carmen has become known for her critical thinking and passion for fostering diversity and inclusivity and uses her platform to promote female leadership and empowerment. She always makes time for her passions, including her love of pasta, which she would happily eat daily.

Carmen Barnard

Carmen Barnard
Photo: Supplied

Hestie Jooste (25)

Hestie is from Pretoria in Gauteng. Picture this: a spunky financial advisor always surrounded by her loving family and fun friends. She’s confident and charismatic and never shies away from a challenge. Her primary crush is chocolate, but that doesn’t stop her from working hard and striving for success through perseverance. With her expert financial advice and positive outlook on life, she helps her clients reach their financial goals while spreading joy and love wherever she goes.

Hestie Jooste

Hestie Jooste
Photo: Supplied

Homba Mazaleni (23)

Homba, from Gonubie, East London in the Eastern Cape, is a qualified sports scientist and student intern at the University of the Western Cape. She pursued Biokinetics to help people recover from injuries and sickness, which gives her great satisfaction in helping them gain the tools they need to pursue their goals and passions. She also loves to binge-watch a good series.

Homba Mazaleni

Homba Mazaleni
Photo: Supplied

Jordan van der Vyver (27)

Jordan, from Durbanville, Western Cape, is a model and businesswoman who recently embarked on an entrepreneurial journey as the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of a pioneering online platform. She aims to provide aspiring individuals with invaluable insights, expert advice and comprehensive resources. Her prime concern is cultivating an inclusive society.

Jordan van der Vyver

Jordan van der Vyver
Photo: Supplied

Karla Pienaar (23)

Karla is from the beautiful Harties community in the North West. She is a Social Science and Geography teacher at Hartbeespoort High School. She describes herself as someone who is soft-spoken and passionate. She strives to develop leaders with a radiant inner beauty and credibility that matters and hopes to profoundly impact others. Being an authentic and trusted voice, she wants to shape the world for the better.

Karla Pienaar

Karla Pienaar
Photo: Supplied

Keaoleboga Nkashe (27)

Keaoleboga, from Itsoseng in the North West, is an educator, student and model. She describes herself as a lifelong learner with a great sense of humour that connects people. She is an inclusion activist passionate about the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and the rights of children. Her lifelong dream is to head up kindergartens across Africa, focusing on STEAM education.

Keaoleboga Nkashe

Keaoleboga Nkashe
Photo: Supplied

Khanya Desi (22)

Khanya, from Frankfort Location, Qonce in the Eastern Cape, is a model and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Screenwriting from AFDA Johannesburg. She describes herself as the light that shines through the storm, wind and rain. Humble and simple, she says she would love to collaborate with the ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide ways of bringing support and encouragement for people to help themselves and exposure to the lives of people living in poverty.

Khanya Desi

Khanya Desi
Photo: Supplied

Lebohang Raputsoe (24)

Lebohang is from Sharpeville, Vereeniging, in Gauteng, and works as an HR practitioner. She is registered as an HR professional with SABPP and holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and degrees in Industrial Psychology and Labour Relations Management. She stands for the progression of youth, focussing on youth empowerment and development.

Lebohang Raputsoe

Lebohang Raputsoe
Photo: Supplied

Lerato Maponya (26)

Lerato is from Johannesburg, Gauteng, but was born in Soweto. She graduated in International Relations from the University of Pretoria and currently works as an HR Manager in the emergency service industry. She has always been passionate about philanthropy and giving back to her community. She’s a Marvel fan who loves trying different restaurants. If she is not watching MasterChef, she is pretending to be the chef in her own cooking show, which she calls “That’s how you cook it”.

Lerato Maponya

Lerato Maponya
Photo: Supplied

Levern ‘Donnatella’ José (23)

Levern, from Kimberley in the Northern Cape, is a candidate property practitioner, a BCom law student at Eduvos Pretoria and an entrepreneur. She is a woman of resolve, grace and learning. She would love to collaborate with the Minister of Small Business Development and the Minister of Employment and Labour to explore the economic viability of women and youth in South Africa.

Levern 'Donnatella' José

Levern ‘Donnatella’ José
Photo: Supplied

Lungo Katete (26)

Lungo, from Midrand in Johannesburg, Gauteng, is a creative at heart with a flair for all things design. This led her to achieve her Bachelors, Honours and Master’s degrees in Architecture from the University of the Witwatersrand. She considers herself graceful, resilient, ambitious, and charismatic and loves to explore her creative side through music.

Lungo Katete

Lungo Katete
Photo: Supplied

Malandi Marais (21)

Malandi is from Citrusdal in the Western Cape. She is a BCom Law graduate and is currently a post-graduate LLB student at Stellenbosch University. She describes herself as hard-working, passionate and joyful. She would be honoured to meet with Justice Madlanga of the Constitutional Court to discuss how to ensure that fundamental human rights are upheld, thereby enhancing social prosperity.

Malandi Marais

Malandi Marais
Photo: Supplied

Mbali Mbalu (25)

Mbali, from Mandalay, Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, is a marketing manager and consultant in the hospitality and entertainment industry and an entrepreneur. She hopes to inspire the youth to reach their greatest potential. Her hobbies include travelling, and she hopes to visit 30 countries before the age of 30.

Mbali Mbalu

Mbali Mbalu
Photo: Supplied

Melissa Nayimuli (27)

Melissa, from Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, was born in a multicultural home to a Xhosa mother and a Ugandan father. She is a passionate storyteller and currently works as a television and film creative producer in Johannesburg. Melissa is passionate about finding solutions to unify Africans, break the stereotypes and celebrate diversity, as she believes there is more power and strength in unity.

Melissa Nayimuli

Melissa Nayimuli
Photo: Supplied

Michelle Kruger (28)

Michelle, from Mpumalanga, is a Candidate Attorney and model. She has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in Law degree from the University of Pretoria. If she had the opportunity to have lunch with anyone famous, it would be with Mmusi Maimane because, as an aspiring politician, she would love to pick his brain on politics and ask him what his advice would be to young, aspiring leaders.

Michelle Kruger

Michelle Kruger
Photo: Supplied

Naledi Mara (23)

Naledi comes from a township called Seshego in Limpopo. She holds a BA degree (criminology and psychology) from the University of Limpopo. She strongly believes in the power of practising true citizenship in the ever-evolving South Africa. She aims to model this concept by implementing affirmative actions towards young women affected by high unemployment rates and lack of job creation.

Naledi Mara

Naledi Mara
Photo: Supplied

Nande Mabala (25)

Nande, from Zwelethemba, Worcester in Cape Town, is a model, micro-influencer, philanthropist and a triple major BA Arts graduate. She believes her courage, tenacity, and drive have moulded her into the woman she is today. She values having pride in her story and where she comes from because it helps build community with people from all walks of life.

Nande Mabala

Nande Mabala
Photo: Supplied

Natasha Joubert (25)

Natasha, from Tshwane in Gauteng, is a BCom Marketing Management graduate and is the owner and fashion designer of Natalia Jefferys, a company she started when she was 19. She has never let her circumstances define her future and wants to enable others to learn independence and create their own narrative. She enjoys spending time in nature, hiking and being with loved ones.

Natasha Joubert

Natasha Joubert
Photo: Supplied

Ndyebo Lurayi (26)

Ndyebo is from Midrand, Johannesburg and founded Balleriia and Shot By Yebs. She is also a student pilot. Ndyebo is waiting graduation day to receive her Bachelor of Arts Degree from UNISA. Her passion is child development, and she tutors young children. She’s an avid cook and loves food.

Ndyebo Lurayi

Ndyebo Lurayi
Photo: Supplied

Nicole Eksteen (28)

Nicole is from the beautiful Winelands in the Western Cape. She has an honours degree in fashion design and is currently the project manager for a design and marketing agency. Nicole is an adrenaline junkie who loves to push herself to new heights. She is an outdoors enthusiast who enjoys hiking, running and extreme sports like skydiving and bungee jumping. You will seldom find Nicole without a smile on her face.

Nicole Eksteen

Nicole Eksteen
Photo: Supplied

Oreabetse ‘Rea’ Molefe (23)

Oreabetse is from Northam, Limpopo. She is an International Relations student at UNISA and, in 2022, completed a Climate Change and Health Certification at Yale University. Rea is an environmentalist and believes that we can all positively impact the environment, no matter how small our actions may seem. If she could watch one movie for the rest of her life, it would be The Lion King.

Oreabetse 'Rea' Molefe

Oreabetse ‘Rea’ Molefe
Photo: Supplied

Rozelle Bester (27)

Rozelle hails from the Free State and is a single mother working as a sales representative. She is also a model and make-up artist studying for her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She loves listening to podcasts, travelling and drinking coffee. Rozelle is passionate about educating and supporting single mothers who suffer from mental disorders.

Rozelle Bester

Rozelle Bester
Photo: Supplied

Sibusisiwe Zwane (20)

Sibusiswe, from Shelly Beach, Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal, is a final year architecture student at UKZN and describes herself as a jill of all trades. She’d love to start her own architecture firm and construction company and work with the government to create sustainable and economic housing projects that will eradicate homelessness in South Africa.

Sibusisiwe Zwane

Sibusisiwe Zwane
Photo: Supplied

Thandolwenkosi Hadebe (22)

Thandolwenkosi, who hails from Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal, is a filmmaker who graduated in film and live performance at AFDA and recently completed her honours studies in innovation. She describes herself as a playful and light-hearted spirit and says she is a rural girl at heart who loves her culture and prides herself on her background and who she is.

Thandolwenkosi Hadebe

Thandolwenkosi Hadebe
Photo: Supplied

Miss South Africa fans can vote for their favourite on the Miss South Africa App to help advance the entrants in the competition. Voting opens at 20:00 on 24 May and closes at 13:00 on 28 May. The finalists will be announced in June via the Miss South Africa App, which can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play store.

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Images: Miss SA

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