Culture Craze
Why South Africa Will Not Compete at Miss Universe 2025
A historic pause for South Africa
South Africa will not compete at Miss Universe 2025, an unprecedented move under the Miss SA organisation. The announcement was made during a media briefing this week, confirming that the country’s new queen will not take the global stage in Thailand next month.
The decision marks a rare pause in South Africa’s long pageant history, where local winners have often gone on to shine internationally. It also signals a new chapter for Miss SA, now under the leadership of Basetsana Kumalo and Peggy-Sue Khumalo.
Why Miss SA is stepping back
The Miss SA finale has been pushed to October this year, just weeks before Miss Universe is scheduled to take place in Thailand. Normally, the newly crowned Miss SA has around three months to prepare for the world stage, from wardrobe to advocacy campaigns. This year, with barely any time between the two events, the organisation said it would be unfair to put the new queen under that kind of pressure.
“This year, Miss SA will not be competing at Miss Universe due to the timing,” a spokesperson explained. “Our representative needs sufficient preparation to carry South Africa’s name internationally, and this schedule does not allow that.”
Learning from last year’s heartbreak
The decision also comes in the shadow of what happened in 2024. Mia le Roux, South Africa’s Miss SA at the time, travelled to Miss Universe but was forced to withdraw just hours before the finale due to health issues. It was a blow that left fans devastated and highlighted how much goes into preparing a contestant, physically and mentally, for such a demanding platform.
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A proud legacy to look back on
Although South Africa will not take part in Miss Universe 2025, the country has an enviable record on the global stage. Zozibini Tunzi became a worldwide icon in 2019 when she won Miss Universe with her natural short hair, breaking beauty pageant stereotypes and inspiring a new generation. Shudufhadzo Musida followed her lead by embracing her bald look when she was crowned Miss SA in 2020.
The journey stretches back even further. Margaret Gardiner made history in 1978 as the first South African to win Miss Universe, just 18 years old at the time. Four decades later, Demi-Leigh Tebow (née Nel-Peters) brought the crown home again in 2017, cementing South Africa’s reputation as a powerhouse in beauty pageants.
A new era for Miss SA
The decision to skip Miss Universe this year reflects both practical timing challenges and a shift in vision under new leadership. With Kumalo and Khumalo at the helm, the organisation is rethinking how to prepare its queens for international success while also ensuring the Miss SA brand continues to evolve.
While many fans expressed disappointment on social media, others acknowledged the wisdom of protecting the new queen from an unfair and rushed debut. For a country so deeply invested in its pageant history, this pause could be the reset Miss SA needs to strengthen its standing on the global stage.
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Source: IOL
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