Bloemfontein-born Thembakazi Mazalemi is the fairest of all inexperienced models in South Africa - announced during the finale of the model search reality show Diamond in the Ruff last night.

The 22-year-old beat 15 other girls for the inaugural season of the 13-part series, which had tongues wagging when it was launched last year.

The show's producers had announced that girls of all sizes, without any professional modelling experience, were welcome to apply.

But after publicity pictures of Mazalemi were released yesterday, many could be forgiven for assuming that the electrical engineering student at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein was already a model.

Mazalemi said there had already been murmurs of the show falsely placing itself as one that was openly supportive of plus-size girls.

She said: "People might feel a bit cheated because I remember during the auditions people complained after a lot of big girls were turned away. There was a big hoo-ha about that, so this may bring back that debate, and a lot of people will be unhappy.

"But it doesn't bother me. I believe that I have the 'X' factor and if people don't agree then that's their problem."

In October, TV presenter and stylist Noni Gasa, one of the show's four judges, bemoaned the fact that though auditions were open to women up to size 40, only "the usual suspects" had come through at that stage.

Ice Models agency's Jane Hancock said Mazalemi's height at 1.80m was "fantastic", and that though her waist at 76cm would be classified as plus size, she could "possibly pull it off".

Hancock said: "We're very fortunate because our clients have a healthy outlook when it comes to booking models. We're not renowned as a country that looks for super, super skinny girls."

Locally, the generally accepted height for women for fashion shows is 1.75m and taller, while men start about 1.84m and above.

In its requirements list for prospective models, Boss Models agency's ladies have to be 1.74m or taller.

"I never thought of modelling as something I could do, despite people pushing me to try it out. I'm considering it - I've fallen in love with it. It's a cliche, but I went there for the fun of it, not expecting to win. Now I want to be one full-time. I want to be taken care of, and people faffing over me," said Mazalemi, who is considering moving to Johannesburg at the completion of her studies.

Mazalemi won a contract with Shine Models agency, and took home the R150000 prize money and a new Chevy Spark car. She will have her driving lessons, a learner's test and driver's test paid for.