Poet and social commentator Ntsiki Mazwai has praised former Miss South Africa Jacqui Mofokeng after a throwback video of the beauty queen resurfaced online.
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Reacting to the footage, Ntsiki reflected on her younger years and admitted she was too young to fully appreciate Jacqueline’s command of the English language.
“Back then I was too young to notice what good English she spoke,” Ntsiki said.
Back then I was too young to notice what good English she spoke 🤭🤭
— NtsikiMazwaiMedia (@ntsikimazwai) October 8, 2026
Jacqueline, also known as Jacqui Mofokeng, made history in 1993 when she became the first Black woman to win the Miss South Africa title. She was crowned on 7 August 1993, marking a significant moment in the history of the pageant and South Africa’s changing social landscape, according to Miss SA.
Her victory came during a period of major political and social change in South Africa, just months before the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. Jacqui’s win was widely viewed as symbolic of a changing South Africa, although it also attracted controversy and criticism from sections of the public, reported the Los Angeles Times.
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Jacqui Mofokeng’s historic 1993 reign
Jacqui was a 21-year-old business student from Soweto when she won the crown. At the time, she said she wanted to use her position to promote a different image of South Africa and encourage business and tourism in the country, the publication added.
Her reign also saw her represent South Africa internationally. She competed at Miss World 1993, where she finished as first runner-up, according to the official Miss South Africa records.
Jacqui’s achievement was particularly significant because no Black woman had previously won the Miss South Africa title during the pageant’s history. Her victory therefore became an important milestone for representation in one of the country’s most prominent beauty competitions.
Decades later, her appearance and eloquence continue to attract attention, with Ntsiki’s reaction highlighting how memorable Jacqui’s presence was during her historic reign.
For Ntsiki, the throwback offered an opportunity to look back at the beauty queen’s contribution with fresh appreciation — particularly her ability to articulate herself confidently on a major international stage.
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