The Miss South Africa Plus World pageant for curvy women is strong testimony to beauty coming in different forms.
This year the 11 contestants that vied for the title made a statement showcasing the natural beauty of full-figured women on the catwalk during the crowning ceremony in the Bloemfontein Civic Theatre on 6 August.
This marked six years of staging the pageant for curvy women, hosted in the Free State.
In 2020 the contest was suspended due to the pandemic, and a virtual edition was introduced in 2021. However, an audience had the privilege of witnessing the crowning of the queen and two princesses for 2022.
As the newly crowned queen of the South African pageant, Mbali Buthelezi from KwaZulu-Natal will be taking body positivity to the global stage by competing internationally. She will be among the finalists who will compete for the crown in America in August 2024.
Buthelezi, who walked away with the special award for best cocktail dress at the crowing, is the first contestant from KwaZulu-Natal to scoop the title.
Philasande Skenjana from Lower Mjika, Tsolo, in the Eastern Cape, was crowned the first princess and received three special awards as voted for by the public. In addition to going home with the public choice award, she was also named Miss Social Media and Miss Photogenic.
Nyakallo Mokgope from North West was crowned second princess.
The other two special accolades, the title of Miss Personality and the award for best evening gown, went to Ntombi Matsoake and Refiloe Mokhati.
“While only one contestant gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete internationally in America, the other ten finalists remain our proud ambassadors of the pageant,” said Samuel “Chief” Leeuw, franchise director.
“They prove that natural beauty is a big deal, and that curvy women deserve to be embraced.
“Financial constraints forced us to only have one representative, as opposed to two as in the previous three years.
“The plan is now to raise funds to help cover expenses of the candidate going abroad. These include flights, accommodation and pocket money. We have not been lucky to get a financial partner to meet us halfway either.”
This plus-size pageant celebrating the beauty of curvy and full-figured women is now staged in August to coincide with events that honour women for their contribution to society.
“The pageant instils self-esteem, helps dispel body shaming and inspires more women to appreciate themselves,” said Mammone Aphiri, who was crowned Miss Plus Intercontinental South Africa in 2020.
“I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to participate and be an ambassador. It has just been a dream to go to America, and this pageant made it possible.”
The 2021 winner, Aphiwe Makaba from the Eastern Cape, will compete for the international crown in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2023.
In 2018, Dipolelo Hou and Puleng Direko received special awards in Atlanta. Direko received the title of Miss Plus Intercontinental Ambassador and was third runner-up in her category, while Hou was named Miss Plus World Ambassador, as well as Miss Photogenic and Miss Pantwear.
