Miss SA finalist Lalela Mswane gives back through alternative skills

With just under two weeks to go before the Miss South Africa pageant takes place, finalist Lalela Mswane is doing her part to help children in need. She recently spent some time with Safe Study South Africa, a programme that facilitates the youth and helps them develop alternative skills.

“From knitting, art and pottery to musical theatre, a lot of other skills are being imparted. It’s a personal project that aligns with my Miss South Africa campaign called ‘Be Ready’. It focuses on the development of alternative skills – arts and trade, agriculture, practical skills- at school level. A lot of the time the skills imparted are structured and the reality is not everyone will get a tertiary education. What happens when you can’t make it? Is your life deemed over? No. We focus on empowering youth and using their practical skills and strengths in that regard to enable them to empower themselves economically at a later stage. Safe Study is in line with that.” 

As it has been announced, the winner of Miss South Africa 2021 is set to take home a package of prizes and sponsorships worth more than R4 million when she takes the crown from reigning Miss South Africa Shudufhadzo Musida.

For Mswane, her journey has been nothing short of amazing.

“My journey has been exciting. I am always in awe every time I think about where I am in the competition. When you enter, you enter with the hope of making it and getting the crown but once you actually make it and are that one step closer, you just can’t express it in one word. I am extremely grateful and excited. Now more than ever, as it comes close I am truly excited.”

The new queen will receive R1 million in cash from the Miss South Africa Organisation, as well as the use of a fully furnished and serviced apartment at the luxurious Central Square Sandton, with fabulous interior décor by Vursa and a Mercedes Benz C-Class Sedan for the year of her reign. 

Again this year, the top three finalists will represent South Africa at the world’s three most prestigious pageants – Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss Supranational. Only in the days after Miss South Africa 2021 is crowned and the other top two are announced, will the Miss South Africa Organisation decide which candidate would do the best at which competition.

These two other winners on the night will each receive R175 000.

Miss South Africa 2021 will be crowned at the Grand Arena, GrandWest in an entertainment-packed event on Saturday, October 16, from 17h00. The event will be screened live on M-Net and Mzansi Magic and will be streamed live for an international audience.

The Top 10 competing for the crown are Bianca Bezuidenhout, Catherine Groenewald, Cheneil Hartzenberg, Jeanni Mulder, Kaylan Matthews, Kgothatso Dithebe, Lalela Mswane, Moratwe Masima, Tiffany Francis and Zimi Mabunzi.

Miss South Africa is presented by Weil Entertainment in association with M-Net, Mzansi Magic, Sun International and the City of Cape Town.