The countdown to the see who will take the Miss South Africa 2023 crown continues with the finalists rehearsing ahead of Sunday’s live show. The Miss South Africa pageant, which will be broadcast on SABC 3 this Sunday from 18h30, takes place at Sun International’s flagship venue, the SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria and promises to be a spectacular, entertainment-packed show.

It will also be live-streamed for an international audience on the Miss South Africa app.

The seven finalists competing for the crown are: Anke Rothmann (23) from the Northern Cape; Bryoni Govender (26) from Gauteng; Homba Mazaleni (23) from the Eastern Cape; Jordan van der Vyver (27), from the Western Cape; Melissa Nayimuli (27) from the Eastern Cape; Nande Mabala (25), from the Western Cape and Natasha Joubert (25) from Gauteng.

Top artists to perform at Miss South Africa pageant finale

Siki Jo-An. A multifaceted entertainer who dabbles in acting, songwriting and teaching art, Siki Jo-An has been making major strides in the music industry since beinmg a runner-up on season three of The Voice SA in 2019, and has performed in major concerts across the country. Her musical skill will see her embarking on a countrywide tour in September 2023 titled The Intimate Concert with the African Queen, with a stop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Following the release of her well-received singles Bekezela and So Easy in 2022, Siki Jo-An has revealed she will be releasing a new single this month with an album to follow in early September.

Jimmy Nevis. Since taking the local music charts by storm in 2012 with the hit single Elephant Shoes, Nevis has become a much-loved household name across the country. Born and raised in Athlone, Cape Town, he has made his mark with other hit singles such as Heartboxing, 7764, All About It and Ballin’. Among many of his accolades, Nevis has had the opportunity to work and collaborate with some of the best musicians and producers South Africa has to offer including MiCasa, Pascal & Pearce, Kwesta and Sketchy Bongo. He has also opened for international stars such as Tevin Campbell and Pharrell Williams.

Brenda Mtambo. Brenda Mtambo was born in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, but grew up in Umlazi under the care of strict grandparents. Music has been a passion of her since early childhood and singing was something she did in her spare time until she decided she wanted to make a living from music and joined the gospel group Joyous Celebration. She stayed with them for a decade, travelling and performing nationally and internationally, before leaving to concentrate on a solo career. She has shared the stage with artists like Hugh Masekela, ­Sibongile Khumalo, and Judith Sephuma and other artists, she has sung for include Lira, Thandiswa Mazwai, and Jonas Gwangwa.

Robot Boii. Multi-talented artist Robot Boii has a huge following in South Africa and, while is best known as a dancer, he is also a talented singer, drummer, comedian and producer. Some of his more popular hits include Salary Salary, Uxolo and Mwagia Ndani and he has collaborated with many of the country’s finest artists including RapLyf boss Kwesta and rapper Costa Titch.

Five leading fashion designers’ creations will be on show at the Miss South Africa 2023 finale

Some of the country’s top fashion designers will be dressing the finalists in a fantastic fashion-forward Miss South Africa 2023 finale.

The Miss South Africa pageant, which will be broadcast on SABC 3 this Sunday from 18h30, takes place at Sun International’s flagship venue, the SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria and promises to be a spectacular, entertainment-packed show. It will also be live streamed for an international audience on the Miss South Africa app.

This year’s designers are Shelli, Gert-Johan Coetzee, Sherif Tailor, William de Beer and Tracy B.

While de Beer, designer and owner of Willetdesigns Couture, is designing the opening number, Shelli from Shell9 Handcrafted and Traci B are collaborating to do the resort and swimwear.

Says Shelli: “My signature style includes a high neck choker and shoulder epaulettes embellished with silver and gold tube beads and unique knot pattern combinations, allowing me to create a visually rich and captivating look and my luxurious macrame designs are handcrafted with attention to detail and are custom-made according to my clients’ needs, whilst also creating exclusive limited collections. For the Miss South Africa pageant, I was greatly inspired by the flowy, exotic and contemporary style of Michael Costello.”

Midrand-based designer Sherif Tailor is doing suits for the finale and says: “I have always wanted to create more suits for women, mainly because wearing a suit, regardless of gender, conveys a sense of refinement and sophistication. I wanted to create bold, strong suits that hold true power and character. If there’s anything that we’ve learned from the past, it’s that a suit symbolises freedom and power while representing the liberated woman.

“I believe the finalists should wear a power suit that reflects their personality, confidence, and screams ‘I am ready to take the crown and conquer the world’, so what better way to give each contestant a round of applause for the courage they have for embarking on this journey and for how far they’ve come, than by dressing them in a brocade fabric, a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics that makes luxury clothing. This material is highly valued because it is made of silk and contains fine gold and silver threads, which best describes the seven finalists. The admiration of various fabrics, colour schemes, and what I can create with them serve as my sources of inspiration.”

Gert Coetzee, the designer behind the evening gowns says: “In creating the gowns for the finalists, I’ve drawn inspiration from the captivating diversity of our country. South Africa’s spirit, especially embodied by its incredible women, is a wellspring of inspiration. These gowns are a testament to the power of unity and just as countless individual beads come together to form these dresses, our rainbow nation’s strength shines brightest when we stand together.

“Expect to be captivated by the extraordinary, and how the intricate details woven into each gown echo the threads of our society, celebrating our shared history and our journey towards oneness. These gowns aren’t mere clothing; they’re living symbols of South Africa’s heart and soul, a radiant example of what can be achieved when unique elements come together in perfect harmony. And a fun fact is that it took seven women more than 2000 hours to make the gowns.”

Final word from Werner Wessels, Creative Director for the Miss South Africa Organisation: “The creative for this year’s Miss South Africa was a love letter to Africa and showcasing the country, its colours and its couture techniques. We want to bring the whole stage to life with Proudly South African designs by Proudly South African designers. I am so honoured that we will be able to showcase these incredible and distinctly African pieces on a global scale and global stage.”

Download the Miss South Africa App from the Apple App Store or Google Play store.

Miss South Africa is presented by Weil Entertainment in association with Sun International. SABC3 is the official broadcast partner.

Pictures by Yolanda van der Stoep and Indirect Media.