Try, try and try again is the Miss SA formula

It was third time lucky for fashion buyer Kim Wentzel.

The 24-year old Roodepoort beauty was yesterday named one of 12 finalists for the Miss South Africa pageant, after failed attempts in 2010 and 2011.

"The first two times I only made it to the semifinals. I wasn't confident, kept to myself and was barely noticed as a result. This year, I changed all this and I am excited it worked," said Wentzel.

Gauteng flourished, with six finalists: Wentzel, Chanelle Sardinha, Gugulethu Banda, Liesl Laurie, Ntsiki Mkhize, Refilwe Mthimunye and Shanè Naidoo.

Miss SA will be crowned on March 29 at Sun City Superbowl. The pageant will be televised live on M-Net and Mzansi Magic.