In Cape Town, Lalela Mswane, a former Miss South Africa, made headlines after her controversial visit to Israel in 2021. Her trip highlighted the complex relationship between Israel, South Africa, and the European Union, and demonstrated how beauty pageants can become entangled in global politics. Despite the backlash, Mswane stands firm in her decision, embodying the grace and determination befitting a Miss South Africa. Her story underscores the impact and reach of beauty pageants on significant societal issues and reflects a sense of African identity, unity among beauty queens, and community resilience.
In 2023, while some South African celebrities gained international recognition, others chose to live a quieter lifestyle. Among these “unsung heroes” were music artist Shekhinah, DJ Ankletap, actress Katlego Danke, and former Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane. Despite their lowkey presence, these stars contributed significantly to the country’s cultural and artistic scene, and speculation remains about their future comebacks in 2024.
Bryoni Govender, a South African lawyer and beauty pageant contestant, is set to compete in the Miss Universe contest in November 2021, and is expected to be a frontrunner. Despite finishing as the first runnerup in the Miss SA contest, Govender’s captivating allure has attracted massive attention from pageant enthusiasts, and her journey to the international stage has been closely followed on social media. South Africa’s pageant representation hit a snag when the Miss South Africa Organisation was unable to renew its license with Miss World, and Joubert was barred from participating in both Miss Universe and Miss World.