“Miss SA is a symbol of all the beauty that makes SA great. She inspires hope, goodness and valour. She aspires to nourish those around her and blooms like a rose amid the thorns. She has the ability to turn graves into gardens.”
Madonsela's advice to the contestants was to “accept yourself as you are while working to do better on things that matter and if you fall, treat that as school fees for lessons learnt and bounce forward as quickly as you can, wisened by the fall. Different seasons of life bring mixed emotions. You might find yourself feeling anxious, nervous, excited, content frazzled or even burdened but remember the challenges you are facing today don't define you. God clearly chose you to experience this journey for a reason”.
This was echoed by her fellow judges, who urged contenders to be authentic and have fun while competing.
The glittering finale will take place at Sun Bet Arena at Time Square. It will be broadcast live on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) and M-Net (DStv Channel 101) on August 13 from 6.30pm, and streamed on the Miss SA app.