Miss South Africa 2023 contestant Melissa Nayimuli was nothing but grateful after reflecting on her journey while on the pageant show, thanking her parents and supporters for the love she received.
The television and film creative producer made the Miss SA Top 5, with many feeling that she was robbed.
Although Melissa did not win, she still managed to capture the hearts of many. Thankful to her fans, she wrote, “God’s Will was done last night [Sunday evening] ??❤️✨??. All I’ve ever prayed for was to be able to share my advocacy with as many people as possible, to represent us, as Africans in our power, and in our truest form and man, didn’t God do it!!! My heart is full ❤️❤️❤️. We are the Kings & Queens! We are royalty, and forever will be ??.”
She concluded, “The love I’ve received is overwhelming! Enkosi, THANK YOU!!! I’ll never forget what you all have done for me ❤️ thank you for walking this Miss South Africa journey with me, it has been such an honour?.”
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In a separate post, Melissa – who hails from Butterworth in the Eastern Cape – thanked her parents, sharing that her Miss SA journey began as a love letter to her father. “Seeing him and my mother so happy and proud made me tear up on stage ???.
“To my father, webale sebo (thank you sir). Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made. Thank you for carrying all of our burdens, pain and struggles to protect our family. Thank you for teaching me how to be strong and tenacious. You stood up for all of us and today I am proud that I am able to stand up for you.”
Thanking her mother, she wrote, “To my mother, my Queen, enkosi mama (thank you mama). Thank you for teaching me how to stand up for what I believe in and showing me how to love and accept others no matter how different they are. Thank you for showing me the power of being in control of your own mind. I would not be here today if it was not for your love ????❤️.”
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