Media personality, actress, and entrepreneur Minnie Dlamini unveiled the Miss South Africa pageant’s Top 19 contestants on 19 August 2026.
The chosen contestants are the top choices who survived the pageant’s intensive judging process during the Top 24 round. The process includes personal storytelling, interviews, and presentations.
Also see: Miss SA Top 19: Minnie Dlamini to host live YouTube announcement
The judging process
The contestants went through a round of judging in which they were thoroughly assessed on their leadership skills, vision for the future, resilience, social impact, and ability to drive change and improvement in their communities.
The judging panel consisted of entrepreneur and investor Dr Aisha Pandor, the former Miss SA 2020 titleholder, Shudufhadzo Musida, and Business Engage founder and CEO Colleen Larsen.
Below is the list of the contestants who made it to the next round:
- Alia Khan Koumantarakis: KZN
- Amogelang Bunu: Gauteng
- Bonolo Marang Motau: Gauteng
- Cwenga Koyana Kotu-Rammopo: Gauteng
- Ipeleng Pearl Madiba: North West
- Katlego Maleba: Gauteng
- Kaylan Matthews: Eastern Cape
- Kendra Norah Horne: Western Cape
- Lesego Khumo Nyathela: Gauteng
- Makhosazana Azana Masango: KZN
- Modiegi Mashamaite: Gauteng
- Ndiwanga Murhava: Mpumalanga
- Palesa van Rooyen: Free State
- Simone Nonhlanhla Tshitaka: Gauteng
- Sunshine Dlangamandla: Gauteng
- Tebogo Palesa Molathlegi: Gauteng
- Tiyani Makamu: Gauteng
- Zoalize Jansen van Rensburg: Gauteng
- Saneliswe Diko: Eastern Cape
Developing initiatives for all contestants
Whilst the competition continues, the individual initiatives of the women in the Top 19 will be granted the opportunity for development through Empower Youth Africa, the Miss SA Organisation’s official impact and leadership programme. The contestants’ initiatives consist of issues including education, youth development, civic participation, Pan-African collaboration, health and wellness, as well as entrepreneurship.
The patron and chairperson of the Miss South Africa Organisation, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, stated that the competition was about adding to the development of all contestants as opposed to developing the winner.
Daily Sun reports that Dr Moloi-Motsepe said that through Empower Youth Africa, a generation of women who are prepared to lead and impact society far beyond the crown and understand their responsibility to society has been cultivated.
Also see: Siya Kolisi backs Miss SA Top 24 contestant
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