Miss SA Top 30: Four KZN beauties make the cut

Miss South Africa officials have unveiled the 30 women who will be competing in this year's pageant. 

The top 30 finalists were revealed on Wednesday night. 

Four women from KwaZulu-Natal are in the running. They are Angie Mkwanazi (Durban), Sibusisiwe Zwane (Port Shepstone), Thandolwenkosi Hadebe (Bergville), and Anelisa Nxele (Durban). 

"South Africa my name is Sibusisiwe Zwane, your Miss SA top 30 finalist!!! How surreal it feels to be able to say this and I’m absolutely humbled by all the love I’ve received thus far. I promise you I am ready to become the embodiment of duty, championship, empowerment and beauty," Sibusisiwe wrote on Instagram. 

Check out her Miss SA 2023 entry video below:

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Anelisa is equally excited to be representing KZN. 

"I am Anelisa Nxele, 22, from Durban KZN. I invite everyone one of you to be my community and walk me through this amazing journey of chasing the crown, and trust me, we will chase it till the very end," she wrote on Instagram. 

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Angie says her dreams are coming true!

"God is in the neighbourhood. My gratitude knows no bounds. The love and support I have received take my breath away. None of this would be possible without God, my communities, friends, family, everyone who supports me and @official_misssa I truly am because you are."

She encouraged her followers to believe in their dreams. 

"My prayer is for each of you to trust your voice and believe that your story has a place in society. I pray you feel seen, heard and valued. Dreams are coming true."

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Thandolwenkosi has nothing but gratitude after making it to the next stage of the beauty competition. 

"Miss South Africa TOP 30!! Thank you so much for the love and the way you have received me. Singenile, siphakathi Ziyakhala ngempela ke manje," she wrote on Instagram.

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Visit the Miss South Africa website to see how you can vote for Thando, Angie, Anelisa, and Sibusisiwe. Your votes will help them get to the top 12 of the competition.  

Voting closes on 28 May at 1 PM (SAST).

The Miss South Africa organisation is shaking things up in 2023. The pageant widened its entry pool when it announced that married women and women with children will be able to enter the competition for the first time. 

"This year we have pushed more boundaries than ever before and we are delighted to welcome all women who are ready to step onto our leadership platform and be the next ambassador for South Africa," CEO Stephanie Weil said in a statement. 

Transgender women, women with tattoos, and women with multiple piercings were also allowed to enter. There were also no restrictions on height or weight. 

Two of this year's contestants - Nicole Eksteen and Jordan van der Vyver - are married.

Free State contestant, Rozelle Bester, is the mom of a five-year-old son - who she calls her "biggest blessing".

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The winner of Miss SA 2023 will take over from Ndavi Nokeri. 

Main image credit: Instagram/@ndavi.nokerii