Miss South Africa Crowned: Qhawekazi Mazaleni Wins

Qhawekazi Mazaleni Crowned Miss South Africa 2025

In a stunning ceremony at Pretoria’s SunBet Arena, Qhawekazi Mazaleni was crowned Miss South Africa on Saturday night. The 24-year-old from Gonubie, East London, triumphed over eight other finalists to claim the prestigious title. She succeeds outgoing queen Mia le Roux. Luyanda Zuma earned the position of First Princess, while Karabo Mareka was named Second Princess.

An Overwhelming Moment of Victory

Expressing her immediate reaction, the new Miss South Africa shared her profound gratitude. “My heart is so incredibly full. Thank you so so much, I am so incredibly lost for words, but my heart is filled with gratitude,” Qhawekazi stated after receiving her crown. Her emotional response highlighted the significance of the achievement for the young speech-language pathologist.

A Queen Dedicated to Education and Language

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

Long before her pageant victory, Qhawekazi Mazaleni was building a legacy focused on empowerment through education. She holds a degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Therapy from Stellenbosch University and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Pretoria, with a research focus on autism. Her commitment is further demonstrated by her linguistic skills; she is fluent in isiXhosa, English, and Afrikaans, and is actively learning Sepedi and isiZulu.

This dedication to language access directly fuels her advocacy. She has already authored an isiXhosa children’s book designed to teach reading and counting, addressing the critical shortage of educational materials in home languages. “Young women don’t always have role models within their own communities to look up to and see themselves reflected; representation gives them permission to dream,” Qhawekazi has previously noted.

A Platform for Practical Change

For the new Miss South Africa, the crown is a tool for actionable impact. She aims to combat hopelessness among youth with visible, measurable initiatives. Her primary goal is to increase access to books and help families create learning resources with available materials. “Through my initiative for increasing access to books I hope to find and share stories that celebrate our cultures, languages and traditions and foster a generation with cultural awareness,” she explained. The reign of Qhawekazi Mazaleni promises to be a year of purposeful action, merging her academic expertise with a passionate drive for community upliftment.