Miss South Africa 2016 Twelve Finalists

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Elizabeth Molapo for Miss South Africa 2016

23 years Elizabeth is a final year student of B.Com Economics at the University of the Free State. She desires to work towards women empowerment and developing the condition of women in the society. She hopes to be a role model and a mentor to women. Her message to girls and you women is “Strive for empowerment and independence, dream big and realize that your dream is yours to make a reality.”

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Felicia Lwazi Muwayi for Miss South Africa 2016

24 years old Felicia is a production manager at Red Pepper Pictures in Johannesburg. She feels that Miss South Africa is more than just the glitz and glamour, and it’s about working towards bringing a change. Her role model is her father, whose drive to make a better life for his family has left her awed and grateful. She likes watching sports channels and records clips of herself to improve herself as a sports anchor. Her message to girls and young women is “Mindset over matter – always. Go out there, push, persist, persevere and defy the odds.”

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Luyolo Mngonyama for Miss South Africa 2016

24 years old Luyolo is a third year BA student of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, majoring in psychology and sociology. She hopes to spread love, charity and ambition and wants to use the Miss South Africa as a platform to pursue that. Luyolo likes to knit in her spare time. Her message to girls and young women is, “It’s your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude. Situation or wealth won’t determine your success – your attitude will.”

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Marciel Hopkins for Miss South Africa 2016

22 years old Marciel is a psychology honours student from Stellenbosch. She wants to involve herself in education, focussing on skills development, and want to use her Miss South Africa title to pursue this dream. She feels inspired by strong women like Angelina Jolie and Caster Semenya. She likes running and reading in her spare time. Her message to young women, “Never let people talk you out of your dreams. You had a purpose before anyone had an opinion. If you want something, make it happen. Never limit yourself by the belief system of others.”

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Mikaela Oosthuizen for Miss South Africa 2016

20 years old Mikaela Oosthuizen is a second year BA Media student. She is deeply inspired by the reigning Miss World, Rolene Strauss that she wants to use the Miss SA platform to advance the improvement of education to all South Africans. Sky is the limit for her. Her message for young women, “You cannot act like cheap Flip Flops and expect to be treated like an expensive Louis Vuitton. Value yourself, educate yourself and don’t let anyone treat you in a way that diminishes you.”

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Ntandoyenkosi Kunene for Miss South Africa 2016

23 years old Ntandoyenkosi Kunene is an Education Honours student at the University of the Witwaterstand. She wants to make a remarkable difference to the society in which she lives. In her spare time, Ntandoyenkosi loves going to the movies and meeting her friends for a meal. Her message for young women, “Most women succeed against all odds. I say start writing your own story.”

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Reabetswe Rambi Sechoaro for Miss South Africa 2016

21 years old Reabetswe is a second year B.Com Accounting Science student at Unisa, and is also working as a model. She believes that the Miss SA title is a great platform to make a difference in the lives of the vulnerable. She spends her spare time doing Pilates and spinning. Her message for young women, “We should stand united and not try to pull each other down. If we encourage each other, we can all reach our potential.”

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Ronette Chambers for Miss South Africa 2016

27 years old Ronette Chambers from Cape Town is an international television presenter. She is also in her second year of B.Com Law Degree at Unisa. She wants to use the Miss SA platform to be a driving force for change through partnerships with NPOs that tackle humanitarian challenges in South Africa. She loves spending her spare time at the beach, and considers her mother as her role model. Her message for young women, “You were given this life to serve a purpose. Your dreams have been uniquely designed to fit your life.”

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Sarah Botes for Miss South Africa 2016

22 years Sarah is a B.Com honours student in Industrial Psychology at Unisa. She wants to contribute to the pageant’s legacy of beauty with a purpose and being a voice for the voiceless. Sarah is a big foodie, and in her spare time she loves going out for Sushi. She also enjoys listening to Taylor Swift music. Her message for young women, “We are not racing against each other, we are running this race together. It’s time we started celebrating and encouraging one another.”

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Schane Venter for Miss South Africa 2016

23 years old Schane is working as a production assistant at a digital marketing agency. She believes that she can inspire young women to live their dreams and believe that anything is possible if one works hard enough. She is a cappuccino lover and who also loves trying local markets. According to her, it is easy to fall into the trap of needing to be flawless in today’s world. She believes that young women must realise that living a flawless life is not sustainable. One must try to be the best version of oneself, instead.

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Sharon Rose Khumalo for Miss South Africa 2016

24 years Sharon Rose is a volunteer tutor and co-director at Team Matric. She wants to use the Miss SA title as a platform to inspire young men and women “not to become victims of circumstance, but victors instead.” Rose is very close to nature, and in likes to spend her spare time in her vegetable garden. She also enjoys drawing, painting and makes mosaic murals. Her message for young girls, “You are beautiful, smart and perfect just as you are. What you think about yourself matters more than what anyone says about you.”

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Tayla Skye Robinson for Miss South Africa 2016

21 years old Tayla Robinson is an honours student in marketing at the University of Pretoria and is also a ballet teacher. She admires women who dedicate their lives to hard work with the intention to achieve their goals. In her spare time, Tayla likes to dance. Her message for young girls, “Being beautiful starts from within. Don’t let society or media influence the way you feel about yourself. Embrace your natural beauty.”