Bonang Matheba "fan favourite" to host Miss Universe pageant

The rumour mill is buzzing with news that South Africa's media darling Bonang Matheba could be the next host of the Miss Universe ceremony. 

According to reports, the 35-year-old is on a "shortlist" of potential hosts alongside former co-host of 'The Real', Jeannie Mai, and  Emmy Award-winning TV host, Zuri Hall. 

The list, which includes Ashley Graham, Giuliana Rancic and Melanie 'Mel B' Brown, appears to be a wishlist rather than a shortlist at this stage but that hasn't stopped Bonang's fans from keeping their fingers crossed. 

"You better give it to Bonang if you want a world-class show," one Twitter user wrote. 

Another user added: "I swear Bonang Matheba would [shake] the world with her hosting skills & also imagine those outfit changes which she will serve us & the stylist working hard to make sure that she nails every damn look .....Tjo nka loma stage if they do consider her."

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American TV host, Steve Harvey, has been hosting the beauty pageant since 2015. He will reportedly be replaced in 2022 after the show was picked up by the Roku Channel. The live TV ceremony will be streamed in 2023. 

According to Variety,  the live TV ceremony is moving to streaming in 2023. It will stream live from New Orleans on January 14. 

The pageant is taking the ceremony in a female-led direction and wants the new host to be a woman. Miss Universe Organization CEO Amy Emmerich told the publication earlier this month that the host will be revealed in the coming weeks. 

“My goal was really to make sure we led with a female lens this next go-around. We should hopefully have that to talk about soon… It was a rare opportunity to be able to kind of restart in a whole new place.”

Bonang's fans are already campaigning for her. They're calling on the B-Force to flood the social media pages of the pageant's new owner, Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, with Bonang's name. 

The business mogul purchased the pageant in 2022. She has asked her followers who they think should be the next host. Bonang's fans are directing everyone to her page.

"Comment on this tweet with Bonang's name besties, that's the CEO of the Miss Universe organisation," one Twitter user wrote. 

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Former Miss Universe winners, Zozibini Tunzi with Catriona Gray, were mentioned as potential hosts but Bonang's biggest competition appears to be Jeannie Mai and Zuri Hall. 

Jeannie previously worked as a correspondent for the Miss Universe and Miss USA co-host. Zuri Hall hosted the Miss USA pageant in 2021 and 2022. Bonang has also served as host for the Miss South Africa pageant. 

With Miss Universe officially looking to appeal to its massive global audience, someone from outside of America could host the prestigious ceremony.

But it's anyone's guess who the new host/s will be! 

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Bonang Matheba

Jeannie Mai

Zuri Hall

Main image: Instagram/@bonang_m, @thejeanniemai, @zurihall