Eastern Cape pair make it to Miss SA last 12

THE Eastern Cape’s only two finalists in the prestigious Miss SA 2016 competition have both made it through to the final 12.

They will compete for the coveted crown at the gala finale in March next year.

Luyolo Mngonyama, 24, of Mount Croix, and Mikaela Oosthuizen, 20, of Humewood, are now preparing for the final leg of the competition and will make various appearances and attend workshops and events across the country during the next three months.

Both women are students at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and have become close friends since being elected as finalists in the top 25 two months ago.

In December last year Port Elizabeth beauty Ziphozakhe Zokufa made the province proud when she was crowned Miss SA 2014 after replacing Rolene Strauss who was crowned Miss World 2014. Liesl Laurie is the current title holder.

Mikaela, a second-year media, communications and culture student, said they had received the news from the judges on Tuesday afternoon but had to remain silent until the official announcement was made later that evening.

“I am extremely excited because it has been a very tough competition so far. We have had a strong group of girls this year and I really believe I have improved in this short time,” she said.

At the age of 14 Oosthuizen became the youngest Miss SA Teen entrant to take the sought-after title in 2010.

She said her goal was to become the first woman to win both Miss SA Teen and Miss South Africa.

She said she had completed her examinations on Friday and flew to Johannesburg on Sunday for another round of judging, workshops and events.

“It is brilliant that both Luyolo and I are here together,” she said.

Mngonyama, a third-year BA student majoring in psychology and sociology, said: “This morning I was looking at my sash and thinking that I cannot believe that I made it here. It is an experience that you can not really describe.”

She said she had received tremendous support from her family, friends and complete strangers who had reached out to her on social media.

“It really pushes you to work harder when you receive this type of support.

“Mikaela and I have really become close friends and she is there for me when I need anything. We are roommates and we have become sisters.

“We know it is still a competition but we are working together to make sure that we make our province proud,” she said.

Mngonyama, who also works as an interviewer for the TB and HIV Care Association, said her whole family was based in Mthatha and Butterworth and were all rooting for her and were planning their outfits for the finale in March. —