Johannesburg - The new Miss SA is 23 years old and a BCom graduate from Eldorado Park, south of Joburg.
Glitz and glamour prevailed during the Miss SA 2015 competition on Sunday night, during which Liesl Laurie was awarded this year’s prestigious title.
The beauty queen was initially calm and composed.
However, excitement overcame her when she was announced this year’s winner at Sun City’s Superbowl.
During an interview on Saturday, Laurie said everything she went through in her young life would lead her to winning the title.
“I have a story to tell and people will be able to relate to me,” she said.
Gauteng was the big winner for the night, with Refilwe Mthimunye from Bronkhorstspruit winning the first princess title and Ntsiki Mkhize from Midvaal being crowned as the second princess.
The calibre of this year’s contestants – a combination of beauty, brains and congeniality – created the backdrop for a flawless production.
The show was hosted by musician Proverb, whose natural charm and humour resonated with the audience.
Television personality Lalla Hirayama and Elle Magazine editor Jackie Burger provided commentary.
The judging panel included actress Sophie Ndaba; editor and poet Kojo Baffoe; Anneline Kriel, who was Miss World in 1974; and Bloemfontein designer Casper Bosman.
Local artists such as AKA, Beatenberg, Gangs of Ballet, and Sterling EQ had the crowd on their feet when they took to the stage.
This was a year of firsts for the pageant as a mentorship programme involving the contestants and former Miss SAs was established.
Fromer Miss SAs included Joanne Strauss, Cindy Nel, Nicole Flint and Peggy Sue Khumalo, who gave advice and guidance to this year’s contestants.
Despite this weekend’s busy social calendar, including the Cape Town Jazz Festival and the royalty soap awards in Durban, several celebrities flocked to the event. Three former Miss Worlds – Kriel, Penny Coelen Rey (1958) and current Miss World Rolene Strauss – made a surprise appearance on stage, to the delight of the crowd.
Speaking of her time as Miss SA last year, Strauss, who walked the red carpet wearing a blue and silver- encrusted gown by designer Anel Botha, said the competition “was a gateway to the rest of the world. It is because of Miss SA that I am where I am today.”
She said a Miss SA should be able to relate to all types of people and be “educated, strong and beautiful”.
“When people see her, they must be comfortable enough to go and speak to her,” she said.
Other former Miss SA title holders, including Melinda Bam and Vanessa Carreira, also graced the red carpet.
Ziphozakhe Zokufa, who was awarded the Miss SA crown when Strauss won the Miss World title, said during an interview before the pageant that although her reign had been short, she had been present in the moment and believed that she had made a difference.
Her message to the new Miss SA would be to “enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and use it to make a difference”.
The Star