Miss USA back home in Mzansi

She's back - this time Miss USA is bearing the gift of a golf club for her grandfather and cannot wait to see her "gogo" in Soweto.

South African-born Nana Meriwether, who clinched the coveted title last year, is on her official "homecoming". Yesterday, the 27-year-old kicked off her tour of South Africa in Cape Town.

"When I won Miss USA I went to the offices of the Miss Universe Organisation and said I am on a homecoming trip to South Africa because every titleholder gets a homecoming trip and it is usually in the US," said Meriwether. "But this is my home."

Meriwether, who was born in Mpumalanga, where her father, Delano, was a medical missionary, felt at home with the panoramic views of Cape Town and Table Mountain from the 20th floor penthouse of the Pepperclub Hotel.

"It is a beautiful country with so much culture, diversity, leading wines, food, amazing dance. It is a lovely country that I would love to share and I boast about a lot in America: 'I am half South African, you must come and check it out'."

Just this week she made headlines for wanting to snatch Prince Harry from his girlfriend, Cressida Bonas. She declared her intentions to marry him at a fundraising dinner for the prince's charity in New York.

"Prince Harry is quite a handsome fellow. The media ran with it, which is fine with me. My number is . I am kidding.

"I love the connection we have that we are both humanitarian-minded . it was an honour to dine with him."

Meriwether's parents are with her. Her mother, Nomvimbi, is from Soweto.

The family is raising awareness about its Meriwether Foundation, which helps poor African communities access clean water and start agricultural projects.

Meriwether could not wait to get to Soweto.

"My grandfather and gogo still live in Soweto. My grandfather loves golf, so I brought him a golf club all the way from the US."