In a dazzling return to the pageantry spotlight, Nande Mabala has secured her place in the Top 10 for this year’s Miss World South Africa. This achievement comes on the heels of her impressive performance at Miss SA 2023, where she finished third, narrowly missing the crown to reigning queen Natasha Joubert.
On Sunday morning, the Miss World SA organisation announced its Top 10 finalists on Instagram, revealing Mabala’s triumph among her peers as the competition approaches its grand finale in October.
Radiant with pride, Mabala expressed her gratitude for advancing in the “Beauty with a Purpose” pageant, bringing her one step closer to representing South Africa on the global stage at Miss World.
“I am so honoured to be one step closer to my dream of getting the Blue Crown – Miss World crown to the South African soil and most importantly, to be given the opportunity and resources to serve and change the trajectory of the lives of children in the township,” Mabala shared.
Miss World SA champions the motto “beauty with a purpose,” emphasising social change and community development beyond conventional beauty standards. Mabala’s “Go Green SA” initiative embodies this mission, aiming to address food insecurity by teaching schoolchildren farming skills for sustainable food production.
Mabala highlighted the importance of her project: “Teaching learners about small-scale farming beats food insecurity, where children are not stunted and enhances the cognitive development of children. In South Africa, 30 million people live in poverty, with schoolchildren comprising 34% of that population. Poverty is a result of the dysfunction in our education system.”
Mabala has forged a productive partnership with Siyafuneka Primary School in her hometown. Together, they are cultivating farms on school grounds, providing nutritious meals and imparting soft skills to students to commercialise the produce, thereby funding school improvements.
“Our approach is not just about giving back; it’s about instilling hope and igniting potential. We are cultivating a generation of leaders who will transform their communities for the better. As the saying goes, it is not what we do for our children, but what we teach them to do for themselves that shapes their success,” Mabala emphasizes.
In addition to her local efforts, Mabala has expanded her project to two schools in Mbizana, Eastern Cape, building farms that are already making a significant impact.
Nande Mabala’s journey in Miss World South Africa is not just a quest for a crown but a heartfelt mission to empower and uplift her community through sustainable change.
