How to watch Bryoni Govender in the Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe will be crowning its new title holder this weekend and South Africa is hopeful for another impressive showing.

Miss Universe South Africa Bryoni Govender is representing the country at this year's pageant. She flew to El Salvador a week ago to take part in preliminary activities. 

ALSO READ: Bryoni Govender begins her Miss Universe South Africa journey

Bryoni is up against more than 80 contestants from all over the world. The Bachelor of Law graduate has already been tipped as one of the favourites to win the pageant. 

Several pageant watchers have included Bryoni in their Miss Universe prediction. She features in several top 16 prediction lists, with some placing her as high as the top 3.

"Crown her already," one Facebook fan wrote. 

Bryoni is the second person of Indian heritage to represent SA at the competition. The national costume she will showcase is an African-Indian fusion.

"It was inspired by a sari and is adorned with traditional Zulu beads in a pattern inspired by an Ndebele print," Miss SA organisers said when the outfit was unveiled. 

The costume is designed by KwaZulu-Natal designer Casey Jeanne. 

Read more about her gown here: Bryoni Govender reveals epic national costume ahead of Miss Universe

South Africans can help get Bryoni to the semi-finals by voting for her on the official Miss Universe app. The person who gets the highest votes will be fast-tracked to the semis. 

If you want to watch the Miss Universe ceremony live, you will need to stay up until the early hours of Sunday morning, November 19. 

The ceremony will be airing live from 3am on SABC 3 (DStv Channel 193). However, the show will be repeated later that day at 7:30pm. 

Bryoni is looking forward to the big night but is also enjoying her time hanging out with the other contestants. 

“I want the world to stop spinning on its axis so I can breathe it all in and savour this glorious time. Meeting wonderful women from all over the world and connecting with them at so many levels has been a true delight. It’s all going too quickly. I want more time to enjoy every precious moment," Bryoni said in a statement. 

The last South African to take home the title was Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi. 

Demi-Leigh Tebow (née Nel-Peters) won in 2017. Tamaryn Green and Lalela Mswane both finished in the top 3 in 2018 and 2021, respectively. 

Margaret Gardiner was the first South African to be crowned Miss Universe in 1978. 

ALSO READ: Tim Tebow shows off his Afrikaans skills while eating droëwors with Demi-Leigh

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Main image credit: Instagram/@bryoni.govender