Record entries for Mrs South Africa 2017

THERE have been more entries in the Mrs South Africa pageant this year than ever before.

The top 100 entrants have been announced and each will be competing for a chance of making it into the Top 25.

The finalists will undergo judging next weekend, and those who make it into the next round will be announced at the annual CANSA Gala Dinner next Friday at Emperors Palace in Joburg.

The pageant is about giving married South African women who have careers, families and hobbies a chance to compete.

Judging this year’s competition are Peermont’s Vusi Zwane, Mrs SA 2016 and Mrs World 2016 Candice Abrahams, businesswoman Unaiza Moideen and principal judge, former Miss SA Cindy Nell-Roberts.

Chief executive Joani Johnson said the pageant, which has gained momentum over the past seven years, had developed a reputation of being a women-empowerment programme.

“It doesn’t matter what your story is or where you come from.

“The contestants are mature, driven, ambitious and, most of all, real, relatable women who strive to be the best version of themselves,” Johnson said.

Reigning Mrs SA Hlengiwe Twala is a mother of three girls. When she was crowned, she said her life had changed and that the pageant was a true gift in her life at that age.

Most of the Mrs SA 2017 entrants are from Gauteng. Earlier this year, the pageant went on a roadshow with Twala, Mrs SA first princess Olwethu Leshabane, second princess Lilliana Lulli-Marruchi and Mrs Charity Claire Gardiner to find candidates who had the potential to win this year’s title.

The pageant is open to women between the ages of 24 and 49.