MEDIA personality Bonang Matheba will make an unexpected comeback as the host of Miss South Africa 2023.
The star hosted the beauty pageant in 2018 and 2019 and became a fan favourite. She is now returning for the third time and is delighted to host the pageant once again.
“The Miss South Africa pageant is one of the biggest television productions in the country, so I am very excited to host the show for a third time. It is an institution in South Africa and I am honoured. I remember gathering around the television when I was growing up and watching people like Basetsana Kumalo and Peggy Sue Khumalo take the title. I remember where I was.
“To grow from a judge to a host and one of the sponsors of this event is an absolute honour. I love that I can showcase my talent and be part of it. The fact that it is airing on SABC means that it is accessible to all people and that’s very important to me,” said Bonang.
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Bonang also served the organisation as a judge in 2014 and was recently a judge for the reality TV show, Crown Chasers. She said the contestants have been great so far.
“Zozibini won Miss Universe in 2019, which was the last time I hosted the show, so who knows what is going to happen this year. These contestants have been on a fabulous journey and this is the pinnacle. They must make wonderful memories as this is the beginning of their dreams coming true,” she said.
Internationally-acclaimed actress Thuso Mbedu has also been announced as part of the judging panel for this year’s pageant. More judges are yet to be announced.
The top seven finalists who will be competing for the title are Anke Rothmann (23), Bryoni Govender (26), Homba Mazaleni (23), Jordan van der Vyver (27), Melissa Nayimuli (27), Nande Mabala (25) and Natasha Joubert (25).
Miss South Africa 2023 will be crowned at the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on Sunday, 13 August.
