This is why we will now have two woman crowned winners at Miss SA

The countdown has begun with 12 women in the running for the coveted title of Miss South Africa. Five of these women are from Gauteng, while two are students at the University of Pretoria.

The rest of the contestants who have made the cut are from Mpumalanga, Free State, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. The 12 women will take to the stage during the final on 27 May at the Time Square Arena.

The Miss SA pageant is, however, undergoing some serious changes. The competition is celebrating its diamond jubilee – that’s 60 years of crowning glory. 

Usually, one winner is announced at the end of the finale, however, while only one woman will take the crown as the official Miss South Africa – two women will be crowned on the night.

WHY?

Traditionally, during the final on pageant night, the top 12 finalists are reduced to five, from which a second princess is announced, followed by a first princess, and then the winner. This year, following the cut to the top five finalists, the organisers will go straight to a top two announcement. One of the pair will be named Miss World South Africa and one will receive the title of Miss Universe South Africa.

Both will go on to represent South Africa on the global stage in the respective global competitions. This is probably as a result of the global pageants being staged during the same calendar period. However, as there can be only one reigning Miss South Africa, the two winners will be asked one final question by the judges as the pageant draws to a close. Their answers will determine who is crowned as the official Miss South Africa 2018.

The dramatic changes were announced during a cocktail event at the Sun Maslow at Time Square in Pretoria.