MISS SA, Bokang Montjane, arrived in São Paulo, Brazil, yesterday and is excited to be representing the country in the Miss Universe pageant

Montjane, 23, will compete in the 60th annual Miss Universe competition next month.

She is among the 89 contestants who have entered this year's competition.

Montjane, who will be in Brazil for three weeks prior to the event, said she arrived safely and was preparing for the welcome event at the Palacio do Bandeirantes to be held today.

"I am very excited to participate in Miss Universe. It is the chance of a lifetime.

"I want to make South Africa proud.

"The girls are all beautiful and I hope I will learn a lot from them and their different cultures," she told Sowetan.

Montjane said she was also looking forward to learning about Brazilian culture.

"We will take part in tours of Avenida Paulista, Ibirapurea Park, the Jockey Club and will also attend an car racing event, among other things."

Montjane will be dressed by fashion designers Andile Bhenye and fashion heavyweight Gert-John Coetzee.

Bhenye designed traditional attire for Montjane that was inspired by Ndebele and Pedi outfits.

"Pedis and Ndebeles are very artistic," said the Cape Technikon graduate who is also a wardrobe designer for e.tv soapie Rhythm City.

"This dress was inspired by their dramatic colours and art. I have incorporated the colour-blocking fashion trend currently unfolding on international runways."

Coetzee, who designed the main gown that Montjane will wear during the live telecast show on September 12, said his design was inspired by "Bokang's unusual beauty".

"Her dark colouring, exquisite almond-shaped eyes, elegant figure and beautiful long legs were my inspiration," he said.