Meet Miss South Africa Top 30 contestants

THIS year’s Miss SA Top 30 has been announced and it is a diverse group of young and beautiful women.

The Top 30 was announced on Monday night, 16 May. The group includes an estate agent, a corporate lawyer, a veterinarian, a forensic science graduate, teachers, models, entrepreneurs, and law students.

They come from all over South Africa with Gauteng leading the field with 13 contestants, the Western Cape has five, KZN has four, the Eastern Cape is represented by three women, the Free State has two, as well as the North West, and there’s one from Limpopo.

The Top 30 has to impress a panel of judges that include Liesl Laurie, Tracey-Lee Lusty Horwitz, Koo Govender, Khosi Nkosi, Makhosazana Zwane-Siguqa, Simoné Nortmann, and Thando Thabethe.

Contestants will be voted for by Mzansi to make it to the Top 10, and they’ll be announced on 13 June.

Meet the Top 30.

Alyssa Smith (24) from Maritzburg in KZN is a corporate lawyer, specialising in private equity fund formation. She studied at the University of the Free State and Varsity College, and graduated with an LLB law degree summa cum laude. Alyssa lists dancing, travelling, poetry, mentoring and drinking lots of tea as the things she loves in life.Alyssa Smith

Anarzade Omar (23) is from Crown Gardens in Joburg. She has a BA in strategic communication in marketing from the University of Joburg and works as a social media manager at a digital marketing agency. She also runs a small online sushi business, which she launched during the Covid-19 lockdown and admits to being an intro-extrovert with the worst dad jokes.

Ayanda Thabethe (22) is from Maritzburg, KZN.

She’s currently pursuing a degree in dietetics and human nutrition. She says she only ever watches three TV channels – Cartoon Network, The Food Network and eNCA and sometimes pretends she has her own cooking show when she’s alone in the kitchen.

Ayanda Tloti (24) hails from Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape and is representing that province, although she currently lives in Joburg. She has a Bachelor of Technology in Fine Art and has had the opportunity to hold exhibitions at museums and art galleries. She loves film, songwriting and has a passion for inspiring women to excel in self-mastery.

Bethany Damonse (24) is from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape – and is representing that province – but is currently doing her community service year as a veterinarian in Tshwane. She enjoys the variety that life has to offer and is an inquisitive person always seeking out new recipes or hiking routes. Her dream is to use natural resources and innovative ideas to make sustainable development goals more achievable for all and create a healthier environment.

Bianca Bezuidenhout (23) is from Cape Town in the Western Cape. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing communications at the AAA School of Advertising. She is a full-time volunteer, ambassador and marketing manager of a non-profit organisation called Forward Foundation, and also the owner of a swimwear company called She Succeeds.

Chuma Matsaluka (24) hails from Nyanga in Cape Town and is a fashion model and content creator with a triple major degree from the University of Cape Town. She’s studying for an honours degree in anthropology. She loves watching crime documentaries, eating ice cream and going to food markets, and says she has a unique laugh and is kind, graceful and empathetic.

Fortunate Mabeleng (25) is from Potchefstroom in the Free State and is a forensic science graduate from the University of the Free State. She works as a tutor and part-time reception administrator and is training to be a forensic officer. She loves coffee and says she’s always very punctual.

Itumeleng Parage (22) comes from Central Western Jabavu in Soweto, Gauteng, and is a Bachelor of Law student with a Bachelor of Arts (law major) degree from the Wits University. She is also an avid reader, enjoys cooking, loves almost all genres of music and says her role model is Michelle Obama.