Tension rises as Miss SA comes down to the final 12
“WHO-O-O-O-O!,” she sighs-breathestalks as she smooths out her velvet, 1970s-inspired pants. “The nerves,” she exclaims. It is shortly before the Miss South Africa Top 12 announcement and as we walk to the red carpet area, I ask a nervous Gerry Elsdon who she is rooting for.
“I’m biased,” she smiles broadly, “I’m rooting for my daughter. Pri. She’s the really tall one, you’ll see her.” And see her we do as the name Priyeshka Lutchman – or Pri as Elsdon calls her – is named and she makes it to the Top 12.
It’s interesting to see just how invested most people in the room are. Of course, the sponsors, Cell C and Sun International, are well represented. But there are friends and family cheering on their favourites in the running to be crowned the woman who will become a proud ambassador of Mzansi.
No one knows that better than Miss South Africa 2015, Liesl Laurie, who was also the host for the evening. She looked gorgeous in a black fishtail number that hugged her curves, and a top bun.
Laurie recalled an endearing story about how hers was the last name to be called into the Top 12 when she was a Miss SA finalist. “Right then and there,” she said, “I knew I would become Miss South Africa 2015.”
The job of crowning the queen doesn’t solely rest on the shoulders of the appointed judges. For the first time this year, the public got to vote for their favourite. The second round of public votes is already open and these votes will make up 25% of the final score for each finalist. The Miss South Africa’s top 12 contenders are: Adè van Heerden, Boipelo Mabe, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, Iman Mkwanazi, Kayla Malherbe, Nicole van Niekerk, Nompumelelo Mampholo, Odirile Sepeng, Priyeshka Lutchman, Shané Naidoo, Shelbe Pretorius and Yuta Raubenheimer.
Reigning Miss South Africa, Ntandoyenkosi Kunene, attended the announcement and placed a sash on each finalist. Saving her from the many of selfies she was being asked for, I asked Kunene about her favourite fashion moments during her year as Miss South Africa.
“Oh, my gosh! There have been so many,” Kunene beamed. “One of them is when I wore JJ Schoeman at the You Spectacular Awards. Then when I wore Anel Botha for my crowning. That dress was just amazing! And my last favourite fashion moment as Miss South Africa was the dress I wore at Miss Universe. It was black and white and had such a long trail. It was just amazing.”
Which designers will Miss South Africa 2017 rock? You’ll have to wait for March to find out.