Miss South Africa just released the top 15 semi-finalists, vying for the crown. These women have already made it past initial judging rounds. They were selected out of thousands of applicants across the country to compete for the prestigious title of Miss South Africa 2020. This may just be the most competitive group of contestants that South African has seen. The top 15 will be cut down to a top 10 by online, and in-person, fan votes. After reviewing each contestants images and resume, I’ve selected my top 10 favorites, in no particular order. I can’t wait to see who the fans choose! Vote for your favorites HERE.

#5 Jordan Van Der Vyver

Jordan comes from Greenpoint in Cape Town and is an international model who usually spends half the year working in the US. The Covid lockdown has taught her to appreciate the meaningful things in life. She is inspired by her mother who is currently finishing her honours in psychology and has an older sister. Her role model is the late Audrey Hepburn and it was because of meeting Jo-Ann Strauss that she entered the pageant.

#9 Melissa Nayimuli

From Butterworth in the Eastern Cape now lives in Sunninghill, Joburg where she works as an account manager for a marketing agency. Melissa has a BA in Motion Picture Medium from AFDA and majored in television writing. Her role models are Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, because “she is not afraid to speak the truth no matter the cost” and Ava DuVerney “whose commitment to writing stories that challenge the way one sees the world and thinks is inspiring.

#2 Aphelele Mbiyo

Born in Mthata and raised in Port Elizabeth, Aphelele currently lives in Lonehill, Johannesburg. She holds a BA in Integrated Marketing Communications and describes herself as calm, positive and ambitious. She loves to host dinners parties as she enjoys bringing people together over good food and says people would be surprised to hear that she plays the trombone. works as a marketing associate and is a part-time Boss Model.

#4 Chantelle Pretorius

From Tshwane, Gauteng, Chantelle is a full-time model and spends six to nine months a year working in Europe. She is also finishing her B. Com Business Management degree through Unisa and completed a diploma in nutrition at The Blackford Centre in the UK. If she won the Miss South Africa crown and was able to meet one person it would be Nataniël because of his sense of humour, his cooking and the way she is always unapologetically himself.

#14 Shudufhadzo Musida

Shudufhadzo comes from Ha-Masia in Limpopo and has a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Pretoria and is currently pursuing a BA Honours in International Relations at the University of Witwatersrand. Shudufhadzo – who has a younger sister – says her role models include Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Toni Morrison, Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Gcuka and Amina J. Mohammed. In her spare time, she reads, sings and practices the keyboard.

#3 Busiswe Mmotla

Busiswe hails from Soweto and is a Senior & FET Phase teacher who graduated from the University of Johannesburg in 2017 with a Bachelor of Education degree. She is currently studying towards a Diploma in Personal Training at Trifocus Fitness Academy with the goal of becoming a wellness coach. She was previously crowned Miss Soweto in 2017 and won USN Face of Fitness 2019. Her favourite meal is spaghetti bolognaise and her dream destination is Paris, France.

#10 Natasha Joubert

Natasha is from Centurion, Tshwane in Gauteng. She is a Public Relations Officer at RFJ Inc. Attorneys and founder and owner of Natalia Jefferys (Pty) Ltd. She has a B. Com Marketing Management Graduate from Boston City Campus. She says she was quite the tomboy as a little girl and would much rather play outside with boys and was the only girl in her karate class. She describes herself as unwavering, compassionate and ambitious and says her guilty pleasure is Salted Caramel Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

#7 Lebogang Mahlangu

From Soshanguve, Tshwane, Gauteng, Lebogang is a food scientist working in research and development for a large multinational. She is a social entrepreneur and owns a community bakery in Soshanguve, who loves the feeling of adrenalin and adventure and enjoys exploring new hiking routes, running and exercising. She says people would be surprised to learn that she was once an aspiring professional soccer player, represented Gauteng and went to a sports school in hopes of playing for Banyana Banyana!

#15 Thato Mosehle

From Klerksdorp in the North West, Thato is a medical doctor currently completing her internship with the aim of becoming an anaesthesiologist. She has won numerous pageants which she starting entering after a knee injury halted her ambition to be a Protea netball player. She loves burgers, enjoys knitting scarves, trying new recipes and watching makeup tutorials and perfecting her makeup skills on herself and on other people.

#6 Karishma Ramdev

Karishma comes from Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal but lives in Johannesburg. She is a qualified medical doctor working at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, who is blessed to have had her family as her support structure during this time as working on the frontline has been stressful “as we are one of the main COVID hospitals dealing with the Corona virus.” If she wins Miss SA, she says she would like to meet Queen Elizabeth II so that she could ask her advice on how to keep her crown shiny!

Love these contestants? Take a look at the ladies competing for the title of Miss Universe Philippines 2020.