Things are not looking too good for Miss South Africa Top 12 finalist Levern ‘Donnatella’ José, as she was recently accused of bullying classmates while in high school. Many are also disappointed in the pageant competition which refuses to provide a comment about the alleged allegations.
The allegations came to light after the Top 12 finalists were announced. Many took to Twitter to share their experiences.
“I was shocked to learn you made it to the top 12 in Miss South competition, one of the girls you use to bully at school spoke out on what you and your gang of mean girls did to her on her whatsapp status, you are truly a horrible person I’m not gonna lie,” said Twitter user @AnelisaJu.
I was shocked to learn you made it to the top 12 in Miss South competition, one of the girls you use to bully at school spoke out on what you and your gang of mean girls did to her on her whatsapp status, you are truly a horrible person I’m not gonna lie https://t.co/xGJc3q718e
— Anelisa ? (@AnelisaJu) June 9, 2023
Twitter user Faith Judith Msiza shared that she, too, was bullied by Levern and her friends.
Contest : Levern José❗, is the girl who bullied me in high school she attended (Lyttelton Manor High School) Me and my father also witnessed Her and her friend(Aysha) bully(hit) a girl named Deborah after school and when the mother tried to intervene they intimidated her. pic.twitter.com/QabsDE71KA
— Faith Judith Msiza (@MsizaFj) May 25, 2023
A person who goes by the Twitter handle @finegyaalKat also created a thread of what she experienced.
The bullying started in 2017 where she and her friends would make sly comments about my friend and I whenever we’d walk past them and they would threaten to beat us up. Mind they were a year older than us @Official_MissSA @2022AFRICA
— katchokoe (@FinegyaalKat) June 9, 2023
My friend and I had a spot where chilled during break time. One day @Levern_Jose and her squad came and basically started shouting at my friend and I. Mind you my friend and I were just looking at them. Levern then called me to the side and asked if I had an issue with them.
— katchokoe (@FinegyaalKat) June 9, 2023
@Levern_Jose stared shouting at me and asking “is she your mother?” “why are you listening to her?” She really just got loud for no reason. Just because I didn’t wanna go talk to her ???
— katchokoe (@FinegyaalKat) June 9, 2023
The girl and my friend got into a physical altercation and even after this happened the school didn’t do anything about the matter and the bullying continued. My friend and I only rested after they left the school @2022AFRICA
— katchokoe (@FinegyaalKat) June 9, 2023
In a statement to The South African, organisers of the pageant said, “The Miss South Africa Organisation and its CEO Stephanie Weil have no comment about the alleged bullying.”
However, they had previously told News24 about their policy: “Our rules state that any semi-finalist or finalist may not have been involved in any unsavoury or unethical incidents or conduct that may bring the organisers or the Miss South Africa pageant into disrepute. Unsavoury or unethical conduct includes but is not limited to bribery, racism, sexism, slander or libel.”
Levern has not provided any comment about the allegations against her.
