TV personality Mdoda to host Miss SA finale
TV and radio personality Anele Mdoda has advanced from being a Miss SA regular judge to hosting this year’s crowning, to take place in Cape Town in October.
The 947 breakfast show presenter was part of the panel that crowned Zozibini Tunzi in 2019 before she was named Miss Universe, as well as Rolene Strauss, who went on to win Miss World in 2014.
Last year she was on the judging panel when reigning Miss SA Shudufhadzo Musida was crowned.
But this year she will follow in the footsteps of recent hosts Bonang Matheba and Nomzamo Mbatha when the new Miss SA is named at the Grand Arena, Grand West, in Cape Town on October 16.
Mdoda will be joined by Survivor SA presenter Nico Panagio as her co-host.
“There have been big changes in the pageant since I started being involved. The team running it is younger and braver and there is no set standard of beauty,” Mdoda said.
“I used to get so annoyed when we were shown, for example, a Miss Venezuela event and got told this was what international pageants were looking for, and I would be like, yes ... for them!
“The main currency now is authenticity.”
Bianca Bezuidenhout, Catherine Groenewald, Cheneil Hartzenberg, Jeanni Mulder, Kaylan Matthews, Kgothatso Dithebe, Lalela Mswane, Moratwe Masima, Tiffany Francis and Zimi Mabunzi are the finalists for this year’s pageant.
“It’s the top 10 who are centre-stage. I am merely a vehicle that moves the night along with an insight of where the finalists’ minds should be and what the judges will be thinking and I will be the one giving the audience at home the scoop,” said Mdoda about hosting the event that will be simulcast on Mzansi Magic and M-Net.
The title-holder will walk away with prizes worth more than R3m, including the luxurious Central Square apartment in Sandton, Johannesburg.
It will be decked out in state-of-the-art furniture from Vursa.
Tunzi and Musida have stayed in the same castle.
“Miss South Africa is more than just a pageant that is focused solely on appearance. With the focus being so much more about empowerment, inclusion and upliftment, it was a perfect fit for Vursa as these are values we believe in ourselves,” said Craig Nerwich from the furniture and homeware lifestyle brand.
Elsewhere, the top 40 semifinalists for the Miss Soweto 2021 pageant set to take place in November have been unveiled.
They will receive the mentorship of health practitioners, life coaches, fashion and beauty experts as well as entertainment pundits throughout October leading up to the finale.
The top 20 finalists will be selected through a White Star WhatsApp voting line.
Expresso Show presenter Thabiso Makhubela and Refiloe Motsei from Jozi FM will host the crowning event.
Radio presenter Bridget Masinga and ex-fashion editor Grace Mantjiu will return as judges.