12 July 2019 1 Min Read

Miss SA 2019 goes beyond conventional beauty standards, Mzansi approves

in Pic of The Day by Cebelihle Bhengu

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Since the announcement of the top 16 for the Miss SA pageant on Thursday, South Africans have taken to Twitter to approve of the competition's decision to ditch the conventional beauty standards to give a true reflection of society.

Sibabalwe Gcilitshana, parliamentary officer and researcher for Equal Education, is one of the contestants who captured the public eye, for being the first ever openly "queer" entrant.

In her top 16 interview with host Bonang Matheba, Siba said the competition will give her the opportunity to share what she believes is an important aspect of her identity as a South African woman. She also hopes to empower women who see themselves represented in her.

- Chuma Matsaluka (21), from Nyanga in the Western Cape, is in her third year in a humanities degree at UCT majoring in anthropology, industrial sociology and political studies.

- Beulah Baduza (23), from Hatfield in Pretoria, is a BA Law graduate and currently doing her LLB.

- Danielle Wallace (26), from Umhlanga in KZN, who moved this month to Cape Town, is a Bachelor of Social Sciences graduate and full-time model.

- Errin Brits (22), from Randpark Ridge, is a BA Law Graduate (Cum Laude) and in her first year of LLB.

- Keabetswe Kanyane (25), from Mobapane in Pretoria, works as an analyst and project coordinator. She graduated with a B.Com in Supply Chain Management at the University of Pretoria and is studying for a B.Com Hons: Logistics Management at the University of Johannesburg.

- Kgothatso Dithebe (24), from Centurion in Pretoria, is a second-year law student at Unisa.

- Lisa Stoffela (26), hails from Margate in KZN. She is currently living in Johannesburg; she graduated with a B.Com in Financial Management, is the owner of a small pizza take-away restaurant and is a part-time model.

- Loren Leigh Jenneker (24), from Centurion in Pretoria, is studying for a B.Com degree in Finance at the University of Johannesburg.

- Noluthando Bennett (24), from Kagiso in Krugersdorp, is a sound engineer with a post graduate diploma in multimedia and web design.

- Eloïse van der Westhuizen (24), from Panorama in Cape Town, has a B.Com and Honours degree in logistics/supply chain management (Cum Laude) from the University of Stellenbosch and currently works as a merchandise planner.

- Nompumelelo Maduna (24), from Rockville in Soweto, has a B.Tech Marketing Management from the University of Johannesburg and is working as a private banker at a leading financial institution.

- Sibabalwe Gcilitshana (24), from Nqamakwe in the Eastern Cape and currently living in Bellville, has her Honours in Justice and Transformation from UCT and works as a parliamentary officer and researcher for Equal Education

- Sasha-Lee Olivier (26), from Alberton, is studying for a marketing and psychology degree at Wits while also working as a model.

- Xia Narain (23), from Chatsworth, KZN, has a Bachelor of Social Science degree in General and Industrial Psychology from UKZN Howard Campus and will next pursue her honours degree in clinical psychology.

- Zanele Phakathi (20), from Soweto, who is a first year Business Information Technology student at the University of Johannesburg and model at Boss Models.

- Zozibini Tunzi (25), from Tsolo in the Eastern Cape, graduated with a ND Public Relations Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and is currently completing B.Tech in PR at the same institution, lives in Gardens.

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Siba said she is open to telling her story. "I do not intend to stand for anyone else, I just have my experience and my truth to share."

Models Sasha Lee-Olivier and Beulah Baduza also had many questioning why they are considered plus-size. The models responded to this on eNCA on Friday morning.

"I am a professional model outside of the Miss SA competition and if you are not a size zero, then you fall into a spectrum of plus-size, and when you are told this in your castings long enough, you start to see yourself as that," said Beulah.

Among others who caught the public's attention was 24-year old Kgothatso Dithebe, who has a unique facial birth mark. Kgothatso said because of this, she suffered from low-self esteem while growing up.

Twitter is here for diversity, from sexuality and Afros to plus-size models.

These are the responses:

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